JP2005018369A

JP2005018369A - Seat reservation system for train, seat reservation server, program, and seat reservation method for train

Info

Publication number: JP2005018369A
Application number: JP2003181446A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Masao Mineo; 将穂峰尾
Original assignee: NEC Corp
Current assignee: NEC Corp
Priority date: 2003-06-25
Filing date: 2003-06-25
Publication date: 2005-01-20

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such problems that it used to be difficult for a user to designate a seat suitable the most for his or her conditions, and that a user might have a seat together with the others even when the activity ratio of a designated seat is not high, and that preferential treatment assignment to parents with children, pregnant women and physically handicapped people or the like has not been available in conventional train designation seat reservation. <P>SOLUTION: In this seat reservation system of a train, a station window terminal 3 or a travel agency terminal 4 are respectively provided with a condition acquiring and transmitting means for encouraging the input of train designation, seat condition including in-vehicle location segment and vehicle location segment and priority order, and for transmitting them to a seat reservation server 1 and a reservation instructing means for displaying received vacant seat information for confirmation input, and for returning a reservation instruction to the seat reservation server 1. The seat reservation server 1 is provided with a reservation retrieval processing means for developing the condition until a seat is found, and for retrieving a reservation DB storing part 22 by using the received designation or condition, and for returning the vacant seat information to the request origin terminal, a reservation confirmation processing means for deciding reservation in response to the instruction of the terminal and a means for initializing the marginal assignment condition of the seat, and for releasing it when the reservation ratio prediction exceeds a predetermined value by referring to an environment information storing part 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は列車の座席予約システム、座席予約サーバ、プログラム、及び列車の座席予約方法に関し、特にユーザ（予約者）の指定座席に対する様々な希望を指定でき、予約処理や座席の使用効率も考慮した列車の座席予約システム、座席予約サーバ、プログラム、及び列車の座席予約方法に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来の列車の指定座席の予約では、座席への希望条件として指定できるのは客車等級の区別、禁煙車両か喫煙可能車両、窓側／通路側かの選択だけである（例えば、特許文献１参照。）。
【０００３】
また座席の割り当て方法が画一的である。又比較的運転区間の長い列車では乗車区間の短い利用者の指定座席がその利用車が降車した後の区間で空き席となっていることもしばしばある。指定席が確保できずに自由席車両が混み合っていて立っている乗客がいても空き席になっていることもある。
【０００４】
【特許文献１】
特開平１１−２１３０７６号公報（段落［００１２］〜［００１６］）
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
一方、ユーザの列車の座席位置に対する希望は多種多様であり、その条件の取捨選択は人によって異なる。
【０００６】
座席位置の希望条件をざっと上げると、客車等級の区別、禁煙、喫煙の区別、窓側、通路側の区別、車両の最前列、前方、中央、後方、あるいは再後方の区別、列車の号車の区別など数多くある。
【０００７】
従って現状の予約指定方式で、客車等級の区別、禁煙車両か喫煙可能車両、窓側／通路側の他の条件もいれた一番自分の条件に合った座席を指定するのには端末操作者が端末に表示させる空き席情報をみながら、希望の座席番号が出てくるまで何回も検索を頼むしかなく、時間と手間がかかるという問題がある。
【０００８】
又、座席指定の方法が画一的であるため、乗車率が低く周りの席がガラ空きであっても他人同士が隣り合わせに座りながら、気まずい思いをすることも起きている。
【０００９】
また、乳幼児を抱えた母親の隣席が埋まっている一方で、黙っていても隣席を占有してしまうようなモラルの低い客の隣席が空席となっているなどして、顧客満足を考えた座席指定方法がとられていない。
【００１０】
更には短距離の座席指定にブロックされ長距離の座席指定ができなくなっている問題もある。
【００１１】
本発明は、以上の様に多種多様な条件が付随する列車座席の希望条件の中から、自分の条件にあった座席を、短時間で簡単にしかもコストをかけずに探すためのシステムや装置、方法等を提供することにある。
【００１２】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明の第１の列車の座席予約システムは、列車の指定座席の予約を要求する端末と、列車の指定座席の予約状況情報が格納された予約データベース記憶部が接続された座席予約サーバとがネットワーク接続されたシステムであって、前記端末は列車に関する指定と指定座席に関する条件とを入力手段を通じ取得しこれらを座席予約サーバに送信する条件取得送信手段と、適合する空席情報を受信するとそれを表示し確認入力を受け予約指示を座席予約サーバに送信する予約指示手段とを有し、座席予約サーバは受信した条件を用い前記予約データベース記憶部の予約状況情報を検索し、適合する空席情報を要求元の端末にネットワークを通じて返信する予約検索処理手段と、前記端末からの予約指示を受け、予約状況情報の対応座席の予約を確定させる予約確定処理手段とを有し、前記条件取得送信手段が指定座席に関する条件として車両内位置区分、車両位置区分についても取得でき、前記予約検索処理手段が車両内位置区分、車両位置区分が条件に含まれればこれらも用い予約状況情報を検索し、適合する空席情報を返信することを特徴とする。
【００１３】
本発明の第２の列車の座席予約システムは、前記第１の列車の座席予約システムに於いて、前記端末の条件取得送信手段が、指定席の客車等級、禁煙車／喫煙可能車、席位置、車両内位置区分、車両位置区分の各項目について指定の有無と指定する項目間の優先順位と指定する項目の選択値と複数を選択する場合の項目内優先順位とを取得し、座席予約サーバに送信し、前記予約検索処理手段が選択値を一つに特定された項目は絶対条件とし、それ以外の項目を希望条件とし、絶対条件と最初の希望条件で空席検索をし、空席が無ければこれが見つかるまで項目間優先順位と項目内優先順位に従って希望条件を変えて検索し、絶対条件を満足し、最初の希望条件に最も近い空き席を見つけてこれを要求元の端末に返信することを特徴とする。
【００１４】
本発明の第３の列車の座席予約システムは、前記第２の列車の座席予約システムに於いて、前記端末を予約者自身が操作し列車座席予約を行う自動券売機としこれには金銭受取装置或いはカードリーダライタも含み、自動券売機には、乗車日と乗車区間を入力させ列車検索指示を受けると列車検索を行い、該当する列車識別を得るとそれらを記憶装置に一時記憶し表示し、該当列車の一つを選択させそれを列車に関する指定として条件取得送信手段に渡す列車検索手段と、条件取得送信手段と予約指示手段を含み、予約指示手段は適合する座席番号を受信するとそれと、座席に関し指定された各項目について座席番号が該当する項目内優先順位と、金額情報を表示し、予約者の確認入力を受け、金額情報を金銭受取装置やカードリーダライタに指示し、これらより受領応答を受けると、予約指示を座席予約サーバに送信することを特徴とする。
【００１５】
本発明の第４の列車の座席予約システムは、列車の指定座席の予約を要求する端末と、座席予約サーバがネットワーク接続されたシステムであって、座席予約サーバには列車の指定座席の予約状況情報が格納された予約データベース記憶部と、列車が繁忙期ないし繁忙時間帯の列車か否かを示す繁忙／閑散情報が格納された環境条件情報記憶部も接続され、前記予約データベース記憶部には座席を予約要求者に割り当てる際に他人同士を隣接させないという割り当て条件フラグを列車に対応して含み、前記端末は列車に関する指定と指定座席に関する条件を取得し予約検索要求と共に座席予約サーバにネットワークを通じ送信する条件取得送信手段を有し、前記座席予約サーバは受信した条件を用い前記予約データベース記憶部の予約状況情報を検索し、適合する空席情報を要求元の端末にネットワークを通じて返信する予約検索処理手段と、列車の予約受付開始前に前記繁忙／閑散情報を参照し、繁忙が指定されていれば、前記割り当て条件フラグを設定し、予約受付が開始されると定期的に最終的な座席予約率の予測をし、予測値が所定の値を超えれば前記割り当て条件を解除する割り当て条件設定手段を有し、前記予約検索処理手段が予約状況情報を検索し、空席を見つける際に割り当て条件フラグが設定されていれば予約済みの席の隣接する席を除外して空席を見つけることを特徴とする。
【００１６】
本発明の第５の列車の座席予約システムは、前記第４の列車の座席予約システムに於いて、前記端末の条件取得送信手段が優遇者指定も取得して送信し、前記予約データベース記憶部には前記割り当て条件フラグとして一般者向けの他に優遇者向けも保持し、前記座席予約サーバの割り当て条件設定手段が前記繁忙／閑散情報を参照し、繁忙が指定されていれば、一般者向けと優遇者向けの両方の割り当て条件フラグを設定し、予約受付開始後定期的に最終的な座席予約率の予測をし、予測値が第１の所定値を超えるが、第１の所定値より大きい第２の所定値以下であれば一般者向け割り当て条件フラグのみを解除し、予測値が第２の所定値を超える時に優遇者向け割り当て条件フラグも解除する様にしたことを特徴とする。
【００１７】
本発明の第６の列車の座席予約システムは、前記第１、第２、第４、第５の何れかの列車の座席予約システムに於いて、前記端末を列車座席予約を行う駅窓口の端末或いは旅行代理店の端末とし、前記条件取得送信手段は列車に関する指定として、乗車日と乗車区間と希望の列車の他に、希望の列車に座席も含めた条件にあう空席が無かった際の列車変更条件、即ち出発時刻の早い列車、遅い列車、どちらも可の条件を任意の付加指定として入力手段を通じて取得し、座席予約サーバに対し希望の列車で座席条件も含めて予約検索要求を送信し、適合する空席が無く、前記列車変更条件が取得されていれば、それに従がい列車指定を変更し座席予約サーバに対し予約検索要求することを特徴とする。
【００１８】
本発明の第７の列車の座席予約システムは、列車の指定座席の予約を要求するユーザ端末と座席予約サーバとカード会社の端末とがネットワーク接続されたシステムであって、前記座席予約サーバには各列車の指定座席の予約状況情報が格納された予約データベース記憶部と、ユーザ識別、パスワード、決済方法、座席に関する要求項目のディフォルト指定とが登録されたユーザ情報記憶部と、列車検索画面情報、項目入力画面情報、決済用画面情報が格納された画面情報記憶部とが接続され、前記座席予約サーバはユーザ端末のアクセスを受け、送信されたユーザ識別、パスワードが前記ユーザ情報記憶部に登録されてれば、列車検索画面情報を送信する手段と、ユーザ端末より列車検索要求と乗車日と乗車区間とを受信し列車検索を行い該当する列車識別を返信する列車検索処理手段と、項目入力画面要求を受信すると、項目入力画面情報とそのユーザのディフォルト指定を返信する手段と、ユーザ端末より乗車日、列車指定、区間と人数と指定席の客車等級、禁煙車／否、席位置、車両内位置区分、車両位置区分の各項目について指定の有無と指定する項目間の優先順位と指定有り項目の選択値と複数を選択する場合の項目内優先順位とを伴い予約検索要求を受信し、選択値を一つに特定された項目は絶対条件とし、それ以外の項目を希望条件とし、絶対条件と最初の希望条件で空席検索をし、空席が無ければそれが見つかるまで項目間優先順位と項目内優先順位に従って希望条件を変え或いは外して検索し、絶対条件を満足し、最初の希望条件に最も近い空席を見つけ、これとその料金額を要求元の端末に返信する予約検索処理手段と、ユーザ端末からの予約指示を受信し決済用画面を送信し、返信されたカード情報と料金額とを提示しカード会社端末に振り込み依頼を送信し、その決済ないし許可を受信する決済処理手段と、決済処理手段の指示で前記予約状況情報の対応する座席を予約確定に更新し、座席指定券の引き換えコードをユーザ端末に送信する予約確定処理手段とを含むことを特徴とする。
【００１９】
本発明の第８の列車の座席予約システムは、列車の指定座席の予約を要求する端末と座席予約サーバとがネットワーク接続されたシステムであって、前記座席予約サーバには列車の指定座席の予約状況情報が格納された予約データベース記憶部、列車に自由席が有るかを示す情報が格納された自由席有無情報記憶部が接続され、前記端末は列車指定と乗車区間と指定座席に関する条件を取得しこれらを座席予約サーバに送信する条件取得送信手段を有し、座席予約サーバは前記列車指定と乗車区間と座席条件を用いて前記予約データベース記憶部の予約状況情報を検索し、適合する空席がなければ前記自由席有無情報を参照し、指定された列車に自由席があることを確認し、乗車区間の一部区間を外して空席検索を行いその結果の空席情報を要求元の端末にネットワークを通じて返信する予約検索処理手段を有することを特徴とする。
【００２０】
本発明の第９の列車の座席予約システムは、前記第８の列車の座席予約システムに於いて、前記端末の条件取得送信手段は乗車区間の一部が自由席となる座席指定の可／不可を任意の付加条件として取得し、前記予約検索処理手段は前記条件が可である場合に、乗車区間と座席条件に適合する空席がなく、指定された列車に自由席があることを確認し、乗車区間の一部区間を外して空席検索を行ないその結果の空席情報を要求元の端末にネットワークを通じて返信することを特徴とする。
【００２１】
本発明の第１の座席予約サーバは、列車の指定座席の予約状況情報が格納された予約データベース記憶部が接続された座席予約サーバであって、ネットワークを通じ端末より予約検索要求と列車に関する指定と座席に関する条件とを受信し、これらの指定や条件を用いて前記予約データベース記憶部の予約状況情報を検索し、適合する空席情報を要求元の端末にネットワークを通じて返信する予約検索処理手段と、前記端末からの予約指示を受け、予約状況情報の対応座席の予約を確定させる予約確定処理手段とを有し、前記予約検索処理手段が座席に関する条件として車両内位置区分、車両位置区分も指定されていればこれらも用いて予約状況情報を検索し、適合する空席情報を返信することを特徴とする。
【００２２】
本発明の第２の座席予約サーバは、前記第１の座席予約サーバに於いて、前記予約検索処理手段が、端末より、指定席の客車等級、禁煙車／喫煙可能車、席位置、車両位置区分、車両内位置区分の各項目について指定の有無と指定する項目間の優先順位と指定する項目の選択値と複数を選択する場合の項目内優先順位とを受信し、選択値を一つに特定された項目は絶対条件とし、それ以外の項目を希望条件とし、絶対条件と最初の希望条件で空席検索をし、空席が無ければ空席が見つかるまで項目間優先順位と項目内優先順位に従って希望条件を変え或いは外して検索し、絶対条件を満足し最初の希望条件に最も近い空席を見つけこれを要求元の端末に返信することを特徴とする。
【００２３】
本発明の第３の座席予約サーバは、列車の指定座席の予約状況情報、座席を予約要求者に割り当てる際に他人同士を隣接させないという割り当て条件フラグとが格納された予約データベース記憶部と、列車が繁忙期ないし繁忙時間帯の列車か否かを示す繁忙／閑散情報が格納された環境条件情報記憶部が接続された座席予約サーバであって、各列車の予約受付開始前に前記繁忙／閑散情報を参照し、繁忙が指定されていれば、前記割り当て条件フラグを設定し、予約受付が開始されると定期的に最終的な座席予約率の予測をし、予測値が所定の値を超えば前記割り当て条件を解除する割り当て条件設定手段と、ネットワークを通じ端末より予約検索要求と列車に関する指定と指定座席に関する条件とを受信し、これらの指定や条件及び前記割り当て条件フラグを用いて前記予約データベース記憶部の予約状況情報を検索し、適合する空席情報を要求元の端末にネットワークを通じて返信する予約検索処理手段を有し、これが予約状況情報を検索し、空席を見つける際に割り当て条件フラグが設定されていれば予約済みの席の隣接する席を除外して空席を見つけることを特徴とする。
【００２４】
本発明の第４の座席予約サーバは、列車の指定座席の予約状況情報が格納された予約データベース記憶部と、ユーザ識別、パスワード、決済方法、座席に関する要求項目のディフォルト指定とが登録されたユーザ情報記憶部と、列車検索画面情報、項目入力画面情報、決済用画面情報が格納された画面情報記憶部とが接続された座席予約サーバであって、ネットワークを通じユーザ端末よりアクセスを受けると、送信されたユーザ識別、パスワードが前記ユーザ情報記憶部に登録されていれば列車検索画面情報を送信する手段と、ユーザ端末より列車検索要求と乗車日と乗車区間とを受信すると列車検索を行い、該当する列車識別を返信する列車検索処理手段と、項目入力画面要求を受信し、項目入力画面情報とそのユーザのディフォルト指定を返信する手段と、ユーザ端末より乗車日、列車指定、区間と人数と指定席の客車等級、禁煙車／喫煙可能車、席位置、車両内位置区分、車両位置区分の各項目について指定の有無と指定する項目間の優先順位と指定有り項目の選択値と複数を選択する場合の項目内優先順位とを伴い予約検索要求を受信し、選択値を一つに特定された項目は絶対条件とし、それ以外の項目を希望条件とし、絶対条件と最初の希望条件で空席検索をし、空席が無ければ空席が見つかるまで項目間優先順位と項目内優先順位に従って希望条件を変え或いは外して検索し、絶対条件を満足し最初の希望条件に最も近い空き席を見つけ、これとその料金額を要求元の端末に返信する予約検索処理手段と、ユーザ端末からの予約指示を受信し決済用画面を送信し、返信されたカード情報と料金額とを提示しカード会社端末に振り込み依頼を送信し、その決済ないし許可を受信する決済処理手段と、決済処理手段の指示で前記予約状況情報の対応する座席を予約確定に更新し、座席指定券の引き換えコードをユーザ端末に送信する予約確定処理手段とを含むことを特徴とする。
【００２５】
本発明の第５の座席予約サーバは、各列車の指定座席の予約状況情報が格納された予約データベース記憶部、列車に自由席が有るかを示す情報が格納された自由席有無情報記憶部が接続された座席予約サーバであって、端末よりネットワークを通じ列車指定と乗車区間と座席条件を受信しこれらを用いて前記予約データベース記憶部の予約状況情報を検索し、適合する空席がなければ前記自由席有無情報を参照し、指定された列車に自由席があることを確認し、乗車区間の一部区間を外して空席検索を行いその結果の空席情報を要求元の端末にネットワークを通じて返信する予約検索処理手段を有することを特徴とする。
【００２６】
本発明の第１のプログラムは、列車に関する指定と車両内位置区分、車両位置区分も含む指定座席に関する条件とを取得しこれらを座席予約サーバに送信する条件取得送信手順と、適合する空席情報を前記座席予約サーバより受信するとそれを表示し確認入力を受け予約指示を座席予約サーバに送信する予約指示手順とをコンピュータに実行させることを特徴とする。
【００２７】
本発明の第２のプログラムは、端末より予約検索要求と列車に関する指定と、車両内位置区分、車両位置区分も含む指定座席に関する条件とを受信し、これらの指定や条件を用いて予約データベース記憶部の予約状況情報を検索し、適合する空席情報を要求元の端末に返信する予約検索処理手順と、前記端末からの予約指示を受け、予約状況情報の対応座席の予約を確定させる予約確定処理手順とをコンピュータに実行させることを特徴とする。
【００２８】
本発明の第３のプログラムは、入力手段を通じ、指定席の客車等級、禁煙車／喫煙可能車、席位置、車両内位置区分、車両位置区分の各項目について指定の有無と指定する項目間の優先順位と指定する項目の選択値と複数を選択する場合の項目内優先順位とを取得する手順をコンピュータに実行させることを特徴とする。
【００２９】
本発明の第４のプログラムは、端末より、指定席の客車等級、禁煙車／喫煙可能車、席位置、車両位置区分、車両内位置区分の各項目について指定の有無と指定する項目間の優先順位と指定する項目の選択値と複数を選択する場合の項目内優先順位とを受信し、選択値を一つに特定された項目は絶対条件とし、それ以外の項目を希望条件とし、前記絶対条件と最初の希望条件で、予約データベース記憶部の予約状況情報を検索し、空席が無ければ空席が見つかるまで項目間優先順位と項目内優先順位に従って希望条件を変え或いは外して検索し、絶対条件を満足し最初の希望条件に最も近い空席を見つけこれを要求元の端末に返信する予約検索処理手順をコンピュータに実行させることを特徴とする。
【００３０】
本発明の第５のプログラムは、環境情報記憶部に格納され列車が繁忙期ないし繁忙時間帯の列車か否かを示す繁忙／閑散情報を、各列車の予約受付開始前に参照し、繁忙が指定されていれば、予約データベース記憶部の座席割り当て条件フラグを設定し、予約受付が開始されると定期的に最終的な座席予約率の予測をし、予測値が所定の値を超えば前記割り当て条件を解除する割り当て条件設定手順と、ネットワークを通じ端末より予約検索要求と列車に関する指定と指定座席に関する条件とを受信し、これらの指定や条件及び前記割り当て条件フラグを用いて予約データベース記憶部の予約状況情報を検索し、適合する空席情報を要求元の端末にネットワークを通じて返信する予約検索処理手順とをコンピュータに実行させることを特徴とする。
【００３１】
本発明の第６のプログラムは、ユーザ端末よりアクセスを受けると、送信されたユーザ識別、パスワードがユーザ情報記憶部に登録されていれば列車検索画面情報を送信する手順と、ユーザ端末より列車検索要求と乗車日と乗車区間とを受信し、列車検索を行い、該当する列車識別を返信する列車検索処理手順と、ユーザ端末より項目入力画面要求を受信し、ユーザ情報記憶部よりユーザのディフォルト指定を読み出しこれと項目入力画面情報を返信する手順と、ユーザ端末より乗車日、列車指定、区間と人数と指定席の客車等級、禁煙車／喫煙可能車、席位置、車両内位置区分、車両位置区分の各項目について指定の有無と指定する項目間の優先順位と指定有り項目の選択値と複数を選択する場合の項目内優先順位とを伴い予約検索要求を受信し、選択値を一つに特定された項目は絶対条件とし、それ以外の項目を希望条件とし、絶対条件と最初の希望条件で、予約データベース記憶部の予約状況情報を検索し、空席が無ければ空席が見つかるまで項目間優先順位と項目内優先順位に従って希望条件を変え或いは外して検索し、絶対条件を満足し最初の希望条件に最も近い空き席を見つけ、これとその料金額を要求元の端末に返信する予約検索処理手順と、ユーザ端末からの予約指示を受信し決済用画面を送信し、返信されたカード情報と料金額とを提示しカード会社端末に振り込み依頼を送信し、その決済ないし許可を受信する決済処理手順と、決済処理手段の指示で前記予約状況情報の対応する座席を予約確定に更新し、座席指定券の引き換えコードをユーザ端末に送信する予約確定処理手順とをコンピュータに実行させることを特徴とする。
【００３２】
本発明の第７のプログラムは、端末よりネットワークを通じ列車指定と乗車区間と座席条件を受信しこれらを用いて予約データベース記憶部の予約状況情報を検索し、適合する空席がなければ記憶部より自由席有無情報を読み出し、指定された列車に自由席があることを確認し、乗車区間の一部区間を外して空席検索を行いその結果の空席情報を要求元の端末にネットワークを通じて返信する予約検索処理手順をコンピュータに実行させることを特徴とする。
【００３３】
本発明の第１の列車の座席予約方法は、列車に関する指定と車両内位置区分、車両位置区分も含む指定座席に関する条件とを取得しこれらを座席予約サーバに送信する条件取得送信手順と、受信したこれらの指定や条件を用いて予約データベースの予約状況情報を検索し、適合する空席情報を要求元の端末に返信する予約検索処理手順とを含むことを特徴とする。
【００３４】
本発明の第２の列車の座席予約方法は、前記第１の列車の座席予約方法に於いて、列車に関する指定と指定席の客車等級、禁煙車／喫煙可能車、席位置、車両内位置区分、車両位置区分の各項目について指定の有無と指定する項目間の優先順位と指定する項目の選択値と複数を選択する場合の項目内優先順位とを取得し、これらを座席予約サーバに送信する条件取得送信手順と、これらを受信し選択値を一つに特定された項目は絶対条件とし、それ以外の項目を希望条件とし、絶対条件と最初の希望条件で予約データベースの予約状況情報を検索し、空席が無ければこれが見つかるまで項目間優先順位と項目内優先順位に従って希望条件を変えて検索し、絶対条件を満足し、最初の希望条件に最も近い空き席を見つけてこれを要求元の端末に返信する予約検索処理手順とを含むことを特徴とする。
【００３５】
本発明の第３の列車の座席予約方法は、列車が繁忙期ないし繁忙時間帯の列車か否かを示す繁忙／閑散情報を、各列車の予約受付開始前に参照し、繁忙が指定されていれば、予約データベースの対応する列車の座席割り当て条件フラグを設定し、予約受付が開始されると定期的に最終的な座席予約率の予測をし、予測値が所定の値を超えば前記割り当て条件を解除する割り当て条件設定手順と、端末より予約検索要求と列車に関する指定と指定座席に関する条件とを受信し、これらの指定や条件及び前記割り当て条件フラグを用いて予約データベースの予約状況情報を検索し、適合する空席情報を要求元の端末に返信する予約検索処理手順とを含むことを特徴とする。
【００３６】
本発明の第４の列車の座席予約方法は、ユーザ端末よりアクセスを受けると、送信されたユーザ識別、パスワードがユーザ情報に登録されていれば列車検索画面情報を送信する手順と、ユーザ端末より列車検索要求と乗車日と乗車区間とを受信し、列車検索を行い、該当する列車識別を返信する列車検索処理手順と、ユーザ端末より項目入力画面要求を受信し、ユーザ情報のディフォルト指定を読み出しこれと項目入力画面情報を返信する手順と、ユーザ端末より乗車日、列車指定、区間と人数と指定席の客車等級、禁煙車／喫煙可能車、席位置、車両内位置区分、車両位置区分の各項目について指定の有無と指定する項目間の優先順位と指定有り項目の選択値と複数を選択する場合の項目内優先順位とを伴い予約検索要求を受信し、選択値を一つに特定された項目は絶対条件とし、それ以外の項目を希望条件とし、絶対条件と最初の希望条件で、予約データベースの予約状況情報を検索し、空席が無ければ空席が見つかるまで項目間優先順位と項目内優先順位に従って希望条件を変え或いは外して検索し、絶対条件を満足し最初の希望条件に最も近い空き席を見つけ、これとその料金額を要求元の端末に返信する予約検索処理手順と、ユーザ端末からの予約指示を受信し決済用画面を送信し、返信されたカード情報と料金額とを提示しカード会社端末に振り込み依頼を送信し、その決済ないし許可を受信する決済処理手順と、決済処理手段の指示で前記予約状況情報の対応する座席を予約確定に更新し、座席指定券の引き換えコードをユーザ端末に送信する予約確定処理手順とを含むことを特徴とする。
【００３７】
本発明の第５の列車の座席予約方法は、端末よりネットワークを通じ列車指定と乗車区間と座席条件を受信しこれらを用いて予約データベースの予約状況情報を検索し、適合する空席がなければ自由席有無情報を参照し、指定された列車に自由席があることを確認し、乗車区間の一部区間を外して空席検索を行いその結果の空席情報を要求元の端末に返信する予約検索処理手順を含むことを特徴とする。
【００３８】
【発明の実施の形態】
次に、本発明の第１の実施の形態について図面を参照して詳細に説明する。図１を参照し、本発明の列車の座席予約システムは、座席予約サーバ１と駅窓口端末３や旅行代理店端末４、自動券売機５とこれらを相互接続する専用線あるいはインターネット等の通信ネットワーク９とから構成されている。
【００３９】
尚、端末装置としては駅窓口端末３、旅行代理店端末４、自動券売機５を全て含む構成に限らずこれらを少なくとも一つ含むものとする。
【００４０】
本実施形態の第１実施例として端末装置としては駅窓口端末３、旅行代理店端末４の場合について説明する。
【００４１】
図２を参照し、本発明の列車の座席予約システムにおける列車座席の希望条件を伝達する例として、ユーザの列車座席に対する希望は専用用紙に記載、あるいはＩＣカードに記憶されることにより、駅窓口端末３、または旅行代理店端末４の端末操作者に伝えられる。
【００４２】
座席予約サーバ１には、指定日における各列車の座席の空席情報に関する情報だけではなく、観光シーズンかどうかによる閑散期か繁忙期かの情報、年末年始、お盆の時期、夏休み等かどうかによる閑散期か繁忙期かの情報、出張者が利用するかどうかによう繁忙時間か、閑散時間かの情報等の、各列車に関する環境情報記憶部が組み込まれている。
【００４３】
更に、環境情報記憶部の各列車の閑散期／繁忙期情報に従って、座席割り当て条件を初期設定し、その後の座席の予約状況を時間的に把握し、過去例と比較しながら判断して座席予約率を予測し、座席割り当て条件を変更する割り当て条件設定手段を有している。
【００４４】
次に、図１、図２、図３を参照して本実施例の動作について説明する。注文者は駅窓口または旅行代理店等の端末操作者に、図２の様な専用の用紙に書かれた、またはＩＣカードや磁気カードに記憶されている、希望する列車座席の条件を伝える。
【００４５】
もちろん予約したい乗車日と、予約人数、列車名、号数は必須項目である。ここで座席の条件とはたとえば、客車等級の区別、禁煙、喫煙の区別、窓側、通路側の区別、車両の最前列、前方、中央、後方、あるいは再後列の区別、列車の号車の区別などである。そしてこれらの条件には優先順位と絶対条件が付けられている。
【００４６】
更に、乗車券の不要な小さい子供連れかどうか、妊娠中または身体が不自由かどうか、などの区別（優遇者指定）も記載されていてもよい。
【００４７】
本実施例の場合、図３に示したように、予約者は一人で、禁煙、グリーン車、窓側、車両の中央付近、列車の中央付近、をこの順番の優先順位で希望し、たばこの項は一つしか選択されていないため禁煙が絶対の条件となっている。
【００４８】
駅窓口端末３や旅行代理店端末４は図２のシートと同様（少なくとも記入要領以下の部分）の入力画面表示を行い、端末操作者は入力画面に沿ってこれらの項目や優先順位を端末に入力し、予約検索要求と共に座席予約サーバ１に送信する。
【００４９】
座席予約サーバ１は希望条件各項目の最優先指定で検索し、無い場合は、優先順位最下位の「車両位置：中央付近」を「希望無し」に変更して検索する。
【００５０】
更に無い場合は、優先順位の下から２番目の「車両内の位置：中央付近」を「車両内の位置：後方」に変更して検索する。以下、座席が見つからない場合には、絶対条件以外を変更し、或いは外して検索する。
【００５１】
端末は絶対条件に適合する空席情報を受信すると、ユーザに確認し発券する。該当無しを受信すると予約する号車を早い時間に変更して検索する。
【００５２】
今ここで、図３の条件で座席が見つかったとし、それを８号車８番Ａ席とする。次に、別のユーザの予約があり、その条件を図４とする。本条件では、予約者がグループで３人となっているため、グループの座席配置の希望も記載される。
【００５３】
例えばこの場合は横に３人並んだ座席を希望している。別の希望例としては、固まってロマンスシート形式で着席したい場合（即ち、座席が横４列ある車両の場合７Ａ、７Ｂ、８Ａなど）とか、全員が通路側に座りたく、且つ近くにいたいため縦に並んで３人分とか、或いは全員が全くのばらばらと言う場合も考えられる。
【００５４】
ここでは横に３人並んだ座席を希望しているが、座席の配置を決める場合に、予約用サーバ内で環境情報や予約率予測により設定された余裕割り当て条件が考慮される。余裕割り当てを行わない場合（現状の座席予約配置）には、効率よく座席を配置するため、図５のようにこの３人の座席位置は８号車８番Ｂ、Ｃ、Ｄとし、横４列が埋まるように配置される。
【００５５】
繁忙期にはこのような座席配置で効率良く予約座席を埋めていく必要があるが、閑散期だと２組４人が横に並び、同じ車両には他に誰もいないという状況になりかねない。これでは、お互い気まずい思いをし、顧客の不満がつのる結果となる。
【００５６】
そこで、座席予約サーバでは環境情報で割り当て条件を決め、閑散期であれば、この３人のグループにはたとえば図６のように１２番Ｂ、Ｃ、Ｄの座席を指定するように判断する。
【００５７】
繁忙期の場合は、２組の予約時点で他に予約がなくても、最終的にほぼすべての座席が埋まると判断し、効率を優先させ８Ｂ、８Ｃ、８Ｄの座席を予約する。
【００５８】
閑散期、繁忙期というのは、ある期間についての判断であるが、座席指定の埋まり具合を時間軸でとらえ、過去のデータとの比較を行いながら、その列車や車両の座席指定割合をその時点、その時点で判断し、座席指定方法を臨機応変に変えていくシステムも、本発明の座席指定券予約サーバは有している。
【００５９】
例えば図７は、閑散期の指定列車の予約開始から当日までの座席予約率標準例（実線）と座席予約実績（点線）、及び座席予約率予想（波線）の１０日前時点でのグラフである。
【００６０】
本例では閑散期のため座席予約率は６０％と推定し、予約開始より、なるべく指定座席がばらつくように配置していた。ところが、１５日前頃に急に座席指定が埋まり出し、１０日前には過去例と比べると満席になる可能性有りと判断されたため、１０に日前には効率よく座席を配置し始める。
【００６１】
具体的には、１０日前まではグループではない客どうしを隣り合わせないように座席指定を行っていたが、１０日前からはグループではない客どうしでも隣り合わせて座席指定を行い始める。
【００６２】
これは、効率よく座席を埋めるという理由ばかりでなく、これより後に予約を入れるかもしれない２人客、３人客がばらばらに座席指定を行わざるを得なくなる状況を避けるよう判断する、という顧客満足を目指すための方法でもある。
【００６３】
また、本例では最終的な座席予約率が１００％を超えると判断しているため、当日の駅は相当の混雑が考えられ、警備員の増強の手配、車内販売、駅売店の仕入れ手配、さらには車両増の手配の事前予想が可能となる。
【００６４】
更に、乗車券の不要な小さい子供連れの１人客に対しては、隣席をその列車が満席にならない限り、ブロック（空席状態）する顧客サービスのための判断を座席予約サーバ１は有する。
【００６５】
これは顧客満足度を上げるための施策であり、弱い立場の人に優しく対応する優遇者向けの割り当て条件判断手段である。間違っても、乳児連れの母親の隣席を埋め、黙っていると２、３人分の席を占領してしまう様なモラルの低い客の隣席を空席にしておくような判断はしない。
【００６６】
座席指定の希望条件をＩＣカードや磁気カードに記憶させておけば、条件提示は早くなるし、決済をそのカードで行えば、代金の支払い時間も無くなる。さらにそのカードに印字機能があれば列車の号車、座席位置を印字させることができるので、切符の発券自体が不要になる。改札時には読みとり装置にかざせばよい。
【００６７】
次に本実施例についてより具体的に構成や動作を説明する。図８（１）は駅窓口端末３や旅行代理店端末４のハードウェア構成を示したブロック図である。駅窓口端末３は通信装置３０１、キーボード等の入力装置３０２、ディスプレイ等の表示装置３０３、カードリーダライタ３０７、発券装置３０６とこれらをプログラム制御するＣＰＵ３０４、主記憶装置３０５を含み構成される。
【００６８】
カードリーダライタ３０７はＩＣカード或いは磁気カードのリーダライタである。カードの表示部へのレライタブル印字機能を持たせる例もある。
【００６９】
図８（２）は駅窓口端末３や旅行代理店端末４の詳細を示した図である。列車に関する指定と指定座席に関する条件とを入力装置３０２或いはやカードリーダライタ３０７を通じ取得しこれらを座席予約サーバ１に送信する条件取得送信手段３１と、適合する空席情報を受信するとそれを表示し確認入力を受け予約指示を座席予約サーバ１に送信する予約指示手段３２と発券指示手段３３を含む。これらはＣＰＵ３０４が実行するプログラムで実現できる。
【００７０】
図９は座席予約サーバ１とこれに接続された外部記憶装置２のハードウェア構成を示したブロック図である。座席予約サーバ１は通信装置１０１、キーボード等の入力装置１０２、ディスプレイ等の表示装置１０３、出力装置１０６とこれらをプログラム制御するＣＰＵ１０４、主記憶装置１０５を含む。
【００７１】
図１０に移り、外部記憶装置２には環境情報記憶部２１、予約ＤＢ（データベース）記憶部２２、料金情報記憶部２４、運転情報記憶部２３、販売情報記憶部２６を含む。
【００７２】
図１１に示す様に、環境情報記憶部２１には、列車名ごとに繁忙期Ａ、繁忙期Ｂが適用されるか、繁忙時間が適用されるかを示す。これに関連して繁忙期Ａ、Ｂの期間が何時で、繁忙時間帯がどの時間帯かを示す情報も保持している。
【００７３】
又、列車名ごとに過去の標準的な閑散期における予約率推移、繁忙期における標準的な予約率推移も保持している。
【００７４】
更に、各列車の運転日ごとの列車の予約率推移情報も保持している。ここで予約率とは列車の予約確定した座席数の乗客定員数に対する割合を百分率で表したもので、余裕割り当てしたスペース席は含まないものとする。
【００７５】
図１２に示す様に、予約ＤＢ記憶部２２には、各列車の運転日単位の列車の情報として、列車名、運転日、運転区間、割り当て条件（一般向け、優遇者向け）各車両の属性（普通／グリーン、禁煙車、車両位置区分）を保持している。又各車両の予約情報として各席の予約確定区間を車両内位置区分ブロックに分けて保持している。
【００７６】
割り当て条件のＳ（スペース）とは他人同士が隣接しないように他人同士の間に空席を確保し、座席割り付けを実行しなさいという指示情報（フラグ）である。これが０であれば空席区間（予約済みや保留のない区間）を単に予約要求者の要求区間に割り付ける。８Ａ席のＲ、Ｒ、Ｒは全区間予約済みを表し、１Ｃ席のＲ、−、−は最初の区間（東京−宇都宮）が予約済みを表し、１Ａ席のＴ、Ｔ、Ｔは全区間が優遇者が予約済みを表わす。Ｐ、Ｐ、Ｐは全区間保留（一時確保）を表す。
【００７７】
図１０に戻り、料金情報記憶部２４には座席指定のある列車の指定料金額情報を保持している。運転情報記憶部２３には方面単位の列車の運行情報を保持している。
【００７８】
販売情報記憶部２６には、旅行代理店端末４に予約確定することで先渡し販売した座席指定料金を旅行代理店ごとに記録している。
【００７９】
座席予約サーバ１は、通信処理手段１１、割り当て条件設定手段１２、予約検索処理手段１３、予約確定・キャンセル処理手段１５、列車検索処理手段１４を含む。これらはそれぞれＣＰＵ１０４に実行されるプログラムで実現される。
【００８０】
予約検索処理手段１３は、列車指定、希望項目と優先順位を伴って検索要求を駅窓口端末３から受けると、最初は指定された項目の最優先値の論理積で予約ＤＢ記憶部２２を検索するが、適合する空席が無ければ項目間優先順位、項目内指定の優先順位に従って、検索条件を変更、縮退させて空席を検索する。
【００８１】
割り当て条件設定手段１２は、予約受付開始の前日等に対象となる列車の環境情報記憶部２１の各列車の閑散期／繁忙期情報をチェックし、繁忙期や繁忙時間帯でなければ、予約ＤＢ記憶部２２の対象列車の座席割り当て条件を（Ｓ、Ｓ）に初期設定し、その後の座席の予約率推移情報を参照し最終（当日）の座席予約率を予測し、所定の値（例えば６０％）を越える場合には割り当て条件を（０、Ｓ）に変更する。
【００８２】
ディリーに行う予測値が第２の所定値（例えば９０％）も越えれば割り当て条件を（０、０）にリセットする。
【００８３】
次に図１３〜図１５のフローチャートを参照し、本具体実施例の動作を説明する。
【００８４】
先ず、図１３を参照し、座席予約サーバ１の割り当て条件設定手段１２の動作を説明する。割り当て条件設定手段１２は予約開始前日に対象列車の環境情報を環境情報記憶部２１より読み出し、その列車に繁忙期の適用がない或いは運転日が繁忙期間でない場合は予約ＤＢ記憶部２２の割り当て条件を（Ｓ、Ｓ）に設定する（ステップＡ１）。
【００８５】
その後ディリーに運用後の時間等でタイマーにより起動され、最終予約率を予測し、結果に応じ割り当て条件をリセットする（ステップＡ２）。
【００８６】
図１４を参照し、座席指定の予約販売動作を説明する。ユーザは予約条件の記入或いはＩＣカードへの書込をし（ステップＢ１）、駅窓口端末３は入力画面に沿って列車の項目、座席の項目、優先順位、列車変更条件、優遇者指定を入力させ取得し保持する（ステップＢ２）。
【００８７】
列車項目、座席項目、優先順位、優遇者指定と予約検索要求を座席予約サーバ１に送信する（ステップＢ３）。
【００８８】
座席予約サーバ１の予約検索処理手段１３は指定された列車及び区間の空席検索を希望指定項目、優先順位、優遇者指定に従って行い結果を送信する。結果が座席番号を含む（検索ヒット）場合は、料金、ＴＳ（タイムスタンプ）も付して送信し、又、座席番号、列車指定、ＴＳを予約確定・キャンセル処理手段１５のスタックに渡しておく（ステップＢ４）。
【００８９】
駅窓口端末３は座席番号を受信すると（ステップＢ５）、座席番号とその条件、料金を表示しユーザに確認させ、結果とＴＳを送信する（ステップＢ６）。
【００９０】
座席予約サーバ１の予約確定・キャンセル処理手段１５は結果（ＯＫ／ＮＧ）、ＴＳを受信しＴＳが現在時刻より所定分古くなければＴＳでスタックを引き、ＯＫでは一時確保していた席番号の予約を確定状態にし再応答を返信し、ＮＧでは一時確保をリセットする（予約ＤＢ記憶部２２の座席の乗車区間にＲを書き込む、或いはＰ（ペンディング）をリセット）（ステップＢ７）。
【００９１】
駅窓口端末３では、再応答を受信して列車（運転日も含む）及び区間、座席番号を発券装置３０６に渡し発券する（ステップＢ８）。
【００９２】
駅窓口端末３は該当の空き無しを受信すると、所定回数分列車変更してなければ（ステップＢ９）、列車変更条件に従って、次の列車を決める。号数のある列車ではテーブルを引き号数を変更し、号数無ければ列車検索を行なう。次の列車があればステップＢ３以降を繰り返し、無ければ該当空き席無しを表示して終わる（ステップＢ１０）。
【００９３】
尚、予約確定・キャンセル処理手段１５にはスタックされた情報のＴＳを周期的（５分間隔等）にチェックし、所定時間経過した情報をタイムアウトとし抜き取り、その席のＰ（ペンディング）をリセットする。
【００９４】
図１５のフローチャートを参照し、上記ステップＢ４の予約検索処理手段１３の動作を説明する。
【００９５】
予約検索処理手段１３は予約ＤＢ記憶部２２より対象列車の割り当て条件、車両編成情報を取得し（ステップＢ４−１）、各希望項目の優先順位１の指定を抽出し初回検索条件とする（ステップＢ４−２）。
【００９６】
車両等級、禁煙車、車両位置区分の指定で車両編成情報を参照し、対象の車両範囲を決め予約ＤＢ記憶部２２より予約情報を読み出し、割り当て条件も反映し検索する（ステップＢ４−３）。
【００９７】
適合する空き有れば（ステップＢ４−４）、それを一時確保し（座席の乗車区間にＰを付し）、座席番号とその条件、料金額をＴＳを付し送信し、又予約確定・キャンセル処理手段１５にも渡しておく（ステップＢ４−８）。
【００９８】
空きが無ければ、優先順位最低項目に次の指定有れば変更し（ステップＢ４−５）、検索を繰り返す。優先順位最低項目に次の指定なければ、それより優先順位の高い項目は絶対条件のみか或いは最後の項目迄処理したかを判定し（ステップＢ４−６）、何れでもなければ、その項目を検索条件から外し（ステップＢ４−７）、ステップＢ４−５を繰り返す。何れかであれば空き無しを送信する（ステップＢ４−９）。
【００９９】
次に本実施形態の第２の実施例について図面を参照して説明する。第２の実施例は、指定座席の条件指定を購入者自身が行う自動券売機５を端末として含む。
【０１００】
第１の実施例において、ユーザは座席の希望条件を専用用紙に書いていたが、その様な画面を有する自動券売機５において、ユーザが条件入力していく。
【０１０１】
第１の実施例の駅窓口端末３や旅行代理店端末４では、駅の窓口の職員、あるいは旅行代理店の店員がを操作していたが、自動券売機５はユーザが直接入力する点が異なる。
【０１０２】
この場合、選択する順番を選ぶようにすることで、優先順位を決めることができる。もちろんこの場合、入力の効率化よりも、ユーザにとってわかりやすい画面にするため、ＧＵＩなどに工夫されている。
【０１０３】
図１７は、自動券売機５の座席条件入力画面の一例である。各条件について、タッチパネル上で順次優先順位の高い条件より、希望を選択していき、「検索する」を指示すると、座席予約サーバ１が優先順位に従い、絶対条件を含む範囲で人数分の空座席が見つかるまで条件を展開し検索し、その結果が表示され、最後に「予約する」ボタンを押すと予約できる。予約ができると支払い方法選択画面が出て、支払い方法を選択し終了する。
【０１０４】
また、希望条件の記憶や入力、決済についても第１実施例と同様にＩＣカードや磁気カードで行うこともできる。
【０１０５】
次に本実施例の動作概要を説明する。図１７を参照し、この画面はユーザが乗車日指定、列車指定、発着駅、人数を列車選択画面で指定した次の画面である。このユーザは、禁煙、グリーン、通路側と選択した後、車両内位置前方を選択し、車両位置中央付近、子供連れを選択したが、この条件での空きがなく、車両内位置として３番目に指定した車両内位置中央付近の空きがあったことを示した状態である。
【０１０６】
第１希望で選択できた条件は「１」という表示がなされ、第２希望の選択の場合には「２」という表示が出る。このユーザは禁煙を第１優先と考えているので、禁煙の選択を最初に行ったが、禁煙が選択できない場合で、このユーザが禁煙を絶対条件と考える場合には、この指定列車の座席は予約できないので、禁煙を選択できなかった時点で、「列車選択画面へ戻る」ボタンを押して、列車を選択する画面に戻り、列車の選択を再度行う。
【０１０７】
また逆に列車を指定せず、条件に合う列車を探すことも可能である。その場合は列車選択画面で乗車日やだいたいの時間、人数などの必須とする条件のみを選択して、本画面で「列車検索」ボタンを押す。条件に合致する列車があれば、列車選択画面に列車名、号数が表示される。それで予約する場合は、「予約する」ボタンを押す。
【０１０８】
座席予約サーバでの座席条件の検索方法、および環境条件の判断については第１の実施例と同じである。また、希望条件の記憶や決済についても第１実施例と同様にＩＣカードや磁気カードで行うこともできる。
【０１０９】
次に本実施例についてより具体的に構成や動作を説明する。図１８（１）は自動券売機５のハードウェア構成を示したブロック図である。自動券売機５は通信装置５０１、タッチパネル等の入力装置５０２、ディスプレイ等の表示装置５０３、カードリーダライタ５０７、発券装置５０６と金受取装置５０８とこれらをプログラム制御するＣＰＵ５０４、主記憶装置５０５を含み構成される。
【０１１０】
金銭受取装置５０８は、挿入された紙幣や投入された貨幣を判別し、これらの合計額を算出し、ＣＰＵ５０４の指示した受取額より大きければ釣り銭額を払い出す自動の金銭受取装置である。
【０１１１】
図１８（２）は自動券売機５の処理手段の構成を示したブロック図である。乗車日と乗車区間を入力させ列車検索指示を受けると列車検索を行い、該当する列車識別を得るとそれらを記憶装置に一時記憶し表示し、該当列車の一つを選択させそれを列車に関する指定として条件取得送信手段５２に渡す列車検索手段５１と、条件取得送信手段５２と予約指示手段５３と発券指示手段５４を含む。
【０１１２】
予約指示手段５３は適合する座席番号を受信するとそれと、座席に関し指定された各項目について座席番号が該当する項目内優先順位と、金額情報を表示し、予約者の確認入力を受け、金額情報を金銭受取装置５０８やカードリーダライタ５０７に指示し、これらより受領応答を受けると、予約指示を座席予約サーバ１に送信する。これらはＣＰＵ５０４が実行するプログラムで実現できる。
【０１１３】
図１９のフロチャートを参照し、本実施例の動作をより具体的に説明する。自動券売機５は図１６の列車検索画面を表示し（ステップＣ１）、画面に沿って入力された区間、乗車日、時間帯、人数と複数時の並びを座席予約サーバ１に送信する（ステップＣ２）。
【０１１４】
座席予約サーバ１は指定条件で検索し該当する列車名、号数、発車／到着時刻を送信し（ステップＣ３）、自動券売機５は受信した列車名、号数、発車／到着時刻を表示し、一つを選択させ「予約へ」が指示されると項目入力画面に切り換える（ステップＣ４）。入力画面に沿って入力された指定項目、優先順位と乗車日、列車名、号数を送信する（ステップＣ５）。
【０１１５】
座席予約サーバ１は指定列車の空席検索を優先順位、優遇者指定に従って行い結果と料金（空き席有りの場合）を送信する（ステップＣ６）。
【０１１６】
自動券売機５は座席番号を受信するとそれと料金を表示し、座席番号が項目の何番目の指定かも項目入力画面の選択用ボタンに表示する（ステップＣ８）。
【０１１７】
座席番号、料金額等が確認され、「予約する」が指示されると金銭受取装置５０８に料金額の受取を指示し受領応答を受けると、座席予約サーバ１に予約応答を送信し、発券する（ステップＣ９）。
【０１１８】
座席予約サーバ１は一時確保していた席番号の予約を確定する（ステップＣ１０）。
【０１１９】
以上の様に、本実施例ではユーザ自体が検索あるいは閲覧するため、臨機応変に列車指定や場合によっては座席指定の絶対条件の変更が可能となる。それは座席の希望についてばかりでなく、たとえば音声発生装置と音声認識装置を備えておけば、視力の弱いユーザ、あるいは盲目のユーザにも対応可能である。
【０１２０】
次に本発明の第２の実施形態について説明する。
【０１２１】
本発明の第２の実施形態は、座席指定券の条件である注文情報をユーザ自信の端末を通して行うシステムや方法である。この場合、図２０に示す様にユーザ端末６はインターネットなどの通信回線経由で座席予約サーバ１に接続される。
【０１２２】
又、ユーザが使用するクレジットカードのカード会社端末７、列車を運行する会社の口座を含む金融機関の端末である金融機関端末８もネットワーク９に接続されている。
【０１２３】
座席指定券の希望条件については、希望座席指定画面にディフォルトで設定しておけば、毎々に希望を指定する必要はなくなる。ユーザは予め、座席指定画面にログインできるように登録しておき、パワードと決済方法が決められる。座席指定が終わり、購入が決まった時点で、予め決められた決済方法に従い、代金が決済される。キャンセルについては、キャンセル画面でキャンセルすれば、決済は停止される。キャンセルが決済後の場合は、所定の手数料を差し引いた額が所定の方法で返金される。
【０１２４】
次に本実施形態についてより具体的に構成や動作を説明する。図２０のユーザ端末６はパーソナルコンピュータ等の情報処理装置或いは携帯端末（携帯電話機も含む）であり、ハードウェアとしては通信装置、キーボード等の入力装置、ディスプレイ等の表示装置とこれらをプログラム制御するＣＰＵ、主記憶装置を含む。
【０１２５】
又インターネット上のホームページにアクセスするためのブラウザ等を備えている。
【０１２６】
図２１を参照し、座席予約サーバ１Ａは決済処理手段１６を含む。決済処理手段１６はユーザがクレジットカード等で支払う場合に、ユーザ個人情報とカード番号等をカード会社端末７に提示しユーザの予約する指定席料金額を金融機関への振り込む様に依頼する。
【０１２７】
外部記憶装置２Ａにはユーザ情報記憶部２８、画面情報記憶部２７も含む。ユーザ情報記憶部２８には、ユーザ識別、パスワード、ユーザ個人情報、決済方法、座席指定予約時の希望情報のディフォルト指定が登録されている。
【０１２８】
画面情報記憶部２７には、ユーザ端末に送信する列車検索入力画面、項目入力画面、決済用画面とそれらの実行手続きのＨＴＭＬ等の記述が格納されている。
【０１２９】
図２２から図２３のフローチャートを参照し、具体的な動作を説明する。ユーザ端末６は座席予約サーバ１Ａにアクセスし、ログイン画面情報を受信しユーザ識別、パスワードを指定しログイン要求する（ステップＤ１）。
【０１３０】
座席予約サーバ１Ａはユーザ識別、パスワードがユーザ情報記憶部に登録されていれば、列車検索入力画面情報を送信する（ステップＤ２）。
【０１３１】
ユーザ端末６は列車検索入力画面を表示し、入力された区間、乗車日、乗車時間帯、人数等を送信する（ステップＤ３）。座席予約サーバ１Ａは指定条件で運転情報記憶部２３を検索し該当する列車名、号数、時刻情報を取得し送信する（ステップＤ４）。
【０１３２】
ユーザ端末６は受信した列車名、号数を表示し、「予約へ」が指示されると選択された列車名等を記憶し、次画面要求を送信する（ステップＤ５）。座席予約サーバ１Ａは項目入力画面とユーザ情報記憶部から読み出したそのユーザのディフォルト指定を送信する（ステップＤ６）。
【０１３３】
ユーザ端末６は画面を切り替え項目入力画面にディフォルト指定を埋め込んで表示する。例えば、ディフォルト指定は複数の変数の値を定義したデータとし、項目入力画面情報が入力項目や項目内優先順位、項目間優先順位の変数に代入してから表示する。（ステップＤ７）。そして確認或いは再入力された指定項目、優先順位、乗車日、列車名、号数、人数等、優遇者指定を送信する（ステップＤ８）。
【０１３４】
座席予約サーバ１Ａは指定された列車の空席検索を空席が見つかるまで優先順位に従って検索条件を絶対条件を含む範囲で展開し、又優遇者指定に従って行なう。空席があれば料金情報記憶部を区間、等級等で引き料金額を取得し、座席番号、その条件、料金額を送信し、空席がなければその旨を送信する（ステップＤ９）。
【０１３５】
ユーザ端末６は、座席番号を受信すると（ステップＤ１０）、座席番号、その条件、料金額を表示し購入／否を入力手段を通じ取得し、結果を予約確定・キャンセル処理手段１５宛に送信する（ステップＤ１１）。
【０１３６】
予約確定・キャンセル処理手段１５は購入を受信すると（ステップＤ１２）、決済用画面情報を送信し（ステップＤ１３）、ユーザ端末６はクレジットカード番号等を入力手段を通じ取得し送信する（ステップＤ１４）。
【０１３７】
座席予約サーバ１Ａの決済処理手段１６はカード会社端末７にユーザ名、カード番号、振込先を提示し振り込み依頼する（ステップＤ１５）。
【０１３８】
決済処理手段１６はカード会社端末７から振り込み成功を受信すると予約確定・キャンセル処理手段１５に通知し、予約確定・キャンセル処理手段１５は予約を確定にし（予約ＤＢ記憶部２２の座席番号に区間情報を登録）、引換番号を、送信する。振り込み不可を受信すると予約確定・キャンセル処理手段１５は座席番号の保留を解除し、決済不可をユーザ端末６に送信する（ステップＤ１６）。ユーザ端末６は受信した引換コ−ド（暗証コード）、運転日、列車名を或いは決済不可で予約されなかった旨を表示する（ステップＤ１７）。
【０１３９】
ユーザは駅窓口端末３や自動券売機５等で引換番号、ユーザ識別、運転日、列車名を提示し指定席券や相当のＩＣカード記録に引き換える。
【０１４０】
次に本発明の第３の実施形態について説明する。本発明の第３の実施形態は、短距離の座席予約を避けて座席指定をするシステムや方法である。
【０１４１】
図２４を参照にして具体的な駅名で説明すると、たとえば東京駅から秋田駅までの予約をしようとしたが満席だとする。この場合すでに予約されている座席の内に、秋田駅の一つ手前の大曲駅から秋田駅までの予約があるとすると、その座席が東京駅から大曲駅まで空席だとしても、東京駅から秋田駅までは座席指定できない。
【０１４２】
よって、これを解決するために、本実施形態の座席予約サーバはこの様な場合には東京駅から大曲駅までの座席指定を行い、大曲駅から秋田駅までは自由席とする発券を行う。
【０１４３】
また逆に、本列車の既に指定されている座席に東京駅−宇都宮駅間があり、宇都宮駅以降が空席であれば、本サーバは宇都宮駅から秋田駅の座席指定を行い、東京駅から宇都宮駅までは自由席とする。
【０１４４】
例えば、図２の希望座席記入シートやこれの入力画面、自動券売機の項目入力画面に「一部区間は自由席も可」の項目を設ける。ここで項目は席位置（窓側／通路側）までの項目にしてもよい。
【０１４５】
予約ＤＢ記憶部２２の予約情報では、各席について区間単位の予約登録が可能にしておく。
【０１４６】
予約検索処理手段１３が指定された列車の指定区間で空き検索し、空きがなくて、「一部区間は自由席も可」の指定があれば、車両情報に自由席を含めば、一部区間を外して空き検索を行い、該当席があればその区間情報も付けて要求端末側に返信する。
【０１４７】
このような座席指定方法も顧客サービス向上につながるばかりでなく、自由席の混雑緩和に役立つ。
【０１４８】
【発明の効果】
以上説明した様に本発明によれば、指定座席に対する希望をきめ細やかに指定できるので、顧客は自分の希望する座席を簡単に予約することができる。
【０１４９】
又、条件項目の優先順位や、項目内優先順位も指定しておけば、条件をその順で自動展開し空き席を検索するので、顧客の希望に最も近い座席が１回の指示で提示される。これらにより、顧客満足度の向上が計れる。
又、顧客が特に望まなくても、顧客のためを考えた座席指定方法を行うことにより、顧客サービスの向上を計ることができることである。
【０１５０】
更に、コンピュータによる座席指定方法に環境状況判断を取り入れることにより、臨機応変に座席指定方法を変更し、効率と顧客満足の両立を計れることである。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の第１実施形態のシステム構成図。
【図２】本発明の第１実施形態の第１実施例の列車指定や座席の希望条件を記載する用紙や入力画面を示した図。
【図３】図２の用紙の記入例や画面への入力例で人数１人の例を示した図。
【図４】図２の用紙の記入例や画面への入力例で人数複数の例を示した図。
【図５】本発明の第１実施形態で余裕割り当てを行わない場合の座席の割り当てを示した図。
【図６】本発明の第１実施形態で余裕割り当てを行なう場合の座席の割り当てを示した図。
【図７】本発明の第１実施形態で閑散期の指定列車の予約開始から当日までの座席予約率標準例（実線）と座席予約実績（点線）、及び座席予約率予想（波線）を示した図。
【図８】（１）は図１の駅窓口端末３や旅行代理店端末４のハードウェア構成を示した図で（２）は駅窓口端末３や旅行代理店端末４の構成を示した図。
【図９】図１の座席予約サーバ１とこれに接続された外部記憶装置２のハードウェア構成を示した図。
【図１０】図１の座席予約サーバ１とこれに接続された外部記憶装置２の詳細を示した図。
【図１１】本発明の第１実施形態の環境情報記憶部２１の内容例を示した図。
【図１２】本発明の第１実施形態の予約ＤＢ記憶部２２の内容例を示した図。
【図１３】本発明の第１実施形態の動作を示したフローチャート。
【図１４】本発明の第１実施形態の動作を示したフローチャート。
【図１５】本発明の第１実施形態の動作を示したフローチャート。
【図１６】本発明の第１実施形態の第２実施例の列車検索画面を示した図。
【図１７】本発明の第１実施形態の第２実施例の座席条件入力画面を示した図。
【図１８】（１）は本発明の第１実施形態の第２実施例の自動券売機５のハードウェア構成を示した図で（２）は自動券売機５の構成を示した図。
【図１９】本発明の第１実施形態の第２実施例の動作を示したフロチャート。
【図２０】本発明の第２実施形態のシステム構成図。
【図２１】図２０の座席予約サーバ１Ａ、外部記憶装置２Ａの詳細を示した図。
【図２２】本発明の第２実施形態の動作を示したフローチャート。
【図２３】本発明の第２実施形態の動作を示したフローチャート。
【図２４】本発明の第３実施形態を説明するための図。
【符号の説明】
１、１Ａ座席予約サーバ
１１通信処理手段
１２条件設定手段
１３予約検索処理手段
１４列車検索処理手段
１５予約確定・キャンセル処理手段
１６決済処理手段
２、２Ａ外部記憶装置
２１環境情報記憶部
２２予約ＤＢ記憶部
２３運転情報記憶部
２４料金情報記憶部
２６販売情報記憶部
２７画面情報記憶部
２８ユーザ情報記憶部
３駅窓口端末
３１条件取得送信手段
３２予約指示手段
３３発券指示手段
４旅行代理店端末
５自動券売機
５１列車検索手段
５２条件取得送信手段
５３予約指示手段
５４発券指示手段
６ユーザ端末
７カード会社端末
８金融機関端末
９ネットワーク[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a train seat reservation system, a seat reservation server, a program, and a train seat reservation method. In particular, the user (reservee) can specify various requests for a designated seat, and also considers reservation processing and seat use efficiency. The present invention relates to a train seat reservation system, a seat reservation server, a program, and a train seat reservation method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the reservation of a designated seat of a conventional train, only the classification of a passenger car class, selection of a non-smoking vehicle or a smokeable vehicle, and a window side / passage side can be designated as a desired condition for the seat (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).
[0003]
Also, the seat assignment method is uniform. In trains with a relatively long driving section, the designated seat of the user who has a short boarding section often becomes vacant in the section after the passenger vehicle gets off. In some cases, reserved seats cannot be secured, and there are vacant seats even if there are passengers standing in a crowd of free seats.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 11-213076 A (paragraphs [0012] to [0016])
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
On the other hand, the user's desires for the seat position of the train are various, and the selection of the conditions varies depending on the person.
[0006]
Raising the desired seating conditions, passenger car class distinction, smoking cessation, smoking distinction, window side, aisle side distinction, vehicle front row, front, center, rear or rear rear distinction, train car distinction There are many.
[0007]
Therefore, in the current reservation designation system, the terminal operator must specify the seat that best suits his / her conditions, including passenger car class distinction, non-smoking vehicle or smoking enabled vehicle, and other conditions on the window / passage side. There is a problem in that it takes time and effort to search for the vacant seat information to be displayed on the terminal until the desired seat number comes out, and to ask for search several times.
[0008]
In addition, since the seat designation method is uniform, even if the occupancy rate is low and the surrounding seats are empty, other people are sitting next to each other and are awkward.
[0009]
In addition, while seats next to mothers with infants are buried, seats for customers with low morals who occupy seats even when they are silent are vacant. The specification method is not taken.
[0010]
Furthermore, there is a problem that it is not possible to designate a long distance seat because it is blocked by a short distance seat designation.
[0011]
The present invention is a system and apparatus for searching for a seat that meets one's own condition in a short time and without cost, from the desired conditions of a train seat accompanied by various conditions as described above. It is to provide a method and the like.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The first train seat reservation system of the present invention includes a terminal that requests reservation of a designated seat of a train, and a seat reservation server to which a reservation database storage unit that stores reservation status information of the designated seat of the train is connected. The system is connected to a network, and the terminal acquires the designation regarding the train and the conditions regarding the designated seat through the input means, and transmits the condition acquisition transmission means for transmitting them to the seat reservation server. And a reservation instructing means for receiving a confirmation input and transmitting a reservation instruction to the seat reservation server. The seat reservation server searches the reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit using the received conditions, and finds suitable vacant seat information. Reservation search processing means that sends a response to the requesting terminal via the network, and reservation reservation from the terminal upon receiving a reservation instruction from the terminal A reservation confirmation processing means for confirming, wherein the condition acquisition and transmission means can also acquire the vehicle position classification and the vehicle position classification as conditions relating to the designated seat, and the reservation search processing means determines whether the vehicle position classification and the vehicle position classification are If they are included in the conditions, they are also used to search for reservation status information and return suitable vacant seat information.
[0013]
In the seat reservation system for the second train of the present invention, in the seat reservation system for the first train, the condition acquisition and transmission means of the terminal includes a passenger seat grade of a reserved seat, a non-smoking car / smoking enabled car, a seat position. The seat reservation server acquires the presence / absence of designation for each item in the vehicle position category and the vehicle location category, the priority between the designated items, the selection value of the designated item, and the priority within the item when selecting a plurality of items. The reservation search processing means uses the absolute condition and the other items as the desired conditions, and searches for the vacancy according to the absolute conditions and the first desired condition. For example, search by changing the desired conditions according to the priority between items and the priority within the item until it is found, satisfy the absolute condition, find the vacant seat closest to the first desired condition, and return this to the requesting terminal It is characterized by.
[0014]
According to a third train seat reservation system of the present invention, in the second train seat reservation system, the terminal is operated by the reservation person himself to make a train seat reservation. Alternatively, including a card reader / writer, the automatic ticket vending machine inputs the boarding date and boarding section, receives a train search instruction, performs a train search, and when the corresponding train identification is obtained, temporarily stores them in a storage device and displays them. A train search means that selects one of the trains and passes it to the condition acquisition and transmission means as a designation relating to the train, a condition acquisition and transmission means, and a reservation instruction means; For each item specified with respect to the item, the priority order in the item corresponding to the seat number and the amount information are displayed, the confirmation input of the reservation person is received, and the amount information is received by the money receiving device or the card reader / writer. It indicated, when receiving the acknowledgment from these, and transmits the reservation instruction to the seat reservation server.
[0015]
A seat reservation system for a fourth train of the present invention is a system in which a terminal for requesting reservation of a designated seat of a train and a seat reservation server are connected to the network, and the reservation status of the designated seat of the train is stored in the seat reservation server. A reservation database storage unit that stores information and an environmental condition information storage unit that stores busy / busy information indicating whether the train is a train in a busy season or a busy time period are also connected, and the reservation database storage unit When assigning a seat to a reservation requester, an assignment condition flag that does not allow others to be adjacent to each other is included corresponding to the train, and the terminal acquires a designation regarding the train and a condition regarding the designated seat, and sends a reservation search request to the seat reservation server through the network. The seat reservation server includes a condition acquisition transmission means for transmitting, and the seat reservation server uses the received condition to store reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit. And a reservation search processing means for returning suitable vacant seat information to the requesting terminal through the network, referring to the busy / busy information before starting the reservation for the train, and if busy is designated, the assignment A condition flag is set, and when reservation acceptance is started, a final seat reservation rate is regularly predicted, and if the predicted value exceeds a predetermined value, the allocation condition setting means for canceling the allocation condition is provided, The reservation search processing means searches for reservation status information, and finds a vacant seat by excluding a seat adjacent to a reserved seat if an allocation condition flag is set when finding a vacant seat.
[0016]
According to a fifth train seat reservation system of the present invention, in the fourth train seat reservation system, the condition acquisition / transmission means of the terminal also acquires and transmits a preferential designation, and sends it to the reservation database storage unit. Holds as the allocation condition flag not only for the general public but also for the preferential person, and if the allocation condition setting means of the seat reservation server refers to the busy / unbusy information and busy is designated, Set both allocation condition flags for preferential users, and periodically predict the final seat reservation rate after the start of reservation acceptance, the predicted value exceeds the first predetermined value, but is larger than the first predetermined value If it is less than or equal to the second predetermined value, only the general user assignment condition flag is canceled, and when the predicted value exceeds the second predetermined value, the preferential person assignment condition flag is also released.
[0017]
According to a sixth train seat reservation system of the present invention, in any one of the first, second, fourth, and fifth train seat reservation systems, the terminal of a station window that performs train seat reservation for the terminal. Alternatively, it is a travel agency terminal, and the condition acquisition and transmission means designates the train as a train when there is no vacant seat that meets the conditions including the seat in the desired train, in addition to the boarding date, boarding section, and desired train. Change conditions, i.e. conditions that allow both early trains and late trains, are acquired through the input means as optional additions, and a reservation search request including the seat conditions is sent to the seat reservation server with the desired train. If there is no suitable vacant seat and the train change condition is acquired, the train designation is changed according to the acquired train change condition, and a reservation search request is made to the seat reservation server.
[0018]
A seat reservation system for a seventh train of the present invention is a system in which a user terminal requesting reservation of a designated seat of a train, a seat reservation server, and a card company terminal are connected to the network, and the seat reservation server includes Reservation database storage unit in which reservation status information of designated seats of each train is stored, user information storage unit in which user identification, password, settlement method, default specification of request items related to seats are registered, train search screen information, A screen information storage unit storing item input screen information and settlement screen information is connected, the seat reservation server receives access from a user terminal, and the transmitted user identification and password are registered in the user information storage unit. The train search screen information is received, and the train search request, boarding date and boarding section are received from the user terminal and the train search is performed. Train search processing means for returning the train identification to be returned, means for returning the item input screen information and the default designation of the user upon receipt of the item input screen request, boarding date, train designation, section and number of people from the user terminal When selecting the number of designated passengers, non-smoking car / no, seat position, in-vehicle position classification, vehicle position classification, whether to specify, priority between specified items, selection value of specified items and multiple Reservation search request is received with the priority in the item, the item specified with one selection value is set as an absolute condition, the other items are set as desired conditions, and the vacant seat search is performed according to the absolute conditions and the first desired condition. If there is no vacant seat, search by changing or removing the desired conditions according to the priority between items and the priority within the item until it is found, find the vacant seat closest to the first desired condition, satisfying the absolute conditions Reservation search processing means for returning the charge amount to the requesting terminal, receiving a reservation instruction from the user terminal, transmitting a settlement screen, presenting the returned card information and the charge amount to the card company terminal Sending the transfer request, receiving the payment or permission of the payment processing means, and updating the seat corresponding to the reservation status information to reservation confirmation according to the instructions of the payment processing means, and sending the seat designation ticket redemption code to the user terminal And a reservation confirmation processing means.
[0019]
A seat reservation system for an eighth train of the present invention is a system in which a terminal for requesting reservation of a designated seat of a train and a seat reservation server are connected to the network, and reservation of a designated seat of a train is performed in the seat reservation server. A reservation database storage unit storing situation information and a non-reserved seat information storage unit storing information indicating whether or not a train has a free seat are connected, and the terminal obtains conditions related to train designation, boarding section and designated seat And a condition acquisition transmission means for transmitting these to the seat reservation server, the seat reservation server searches for reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit using the train designation, boarding section and seat condition, and a suitable vacant seat is found. If there is no seat, refer to the information on the presence or absence of the unoccupied seat, confirm that the designated train has an unoccupied seat, remove a part of the boarding section and perform a seat search to obtain the seat availability information. It characterized by having a reservation retrieval processing unit to reply via the network to the terminal of Motomemoto.
[0020]
According to a ninth train seat reservation system of the present invention, in the eighth train seat reservation system, the condition acquisition / transmission means of the terminal allows / cannot specify a seat where a part of the boarding section becomes a free seat. The reservation search processing means confirms that there is no vacant seat that matches the boarding section and the seat condition, and that the designated train has a free seat when the condition is acceptable, It is characterized in that a part of the boarding section is removed and a vacancy search is performed, and the resulting vacancy information is sent back to the requesting terminal via the network.
[0021]
The first seat reservation server of the present invention is a seat reservation server to which a reservation database storage unit storing reservation status information of a designated seat of a train is connected, and a reservation search request and designation related to a train from a terminal through a network; Reservation search processing means for receiving conditions relating to seats, searching for reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit using these designations and conditions, and returning suitable vacant seat information to the requesting terminal via the network, and A reservation confirmation processing means for receiving a reservation instruction from the terminal and confirming the reservation of the corresponding seat in the reservation status information, and the reservation search processing means also specifies the in-vehicle position classification and the vehicle position classification as conditions relating to the seat If this is the case, the reservation status information is searched using these, and the matching vacant seat information is returned.
[0022]
According to a second seat reservation server of the present invention, in the first seat reservation server, the reservation search processing means, from the terminal, specifies a passenger seat class of a designated seat, a non-smoking car / smoking enabled car, a seat position, a vehicle position. For each item of the classification and in-vehicle position classification, the presence / absence of designation, the priority between the designated items, the selection value of the designated item and the priority within the item when selecting multiple items are received, and the selected value is united The specified item is an absolute condition, the other items are the desired conditions, the vacancy search is performed with the absolute condition and the first desired condition, and if there is no vacancy, it is desired according to the priority between items and the priority within the item until a vacant seat is found The search is performed by changing or removing conditions, and a vacant seat that satisfies the absolute condition and is closest to the first desired condition is found and returned to the requesting terminal.
[0023]
The third seat reservation server of the present invention includes a reservation database storage unit that stores reservation status information of a designated seat of a train, an assignment condition flag that does not allow others to be adjacent to each other when assigning a seat to a reservation requester, Is a seat reservation server connected to an environmental condition information storage unit in which busy / non-busy information indicating whether or not the train is in a busy season or busy time zone, and before the start of reservation reception for each train, If busy is specified by referring to the information, the allocation condition flag is set, and when the reservation acceptance starts, the final seat reservation rate is regularly predicted, and the predicted value exceeds a predetermined value. For example, the allocation condition setting means for canceling the allocation condition, and the reservation search request, the designation relating to the train, and the condition relating to the designated seat are received from the terminal through the network, and It has reservation search processing means for searching for reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit using a hitting condition flag and returning suitable vacant seat information to the requesting terminal via the network, which searches the reservation status information, If an allocation condition flag is set when finding a seat, a seat adjacent to a reserved seat is excluded and a vacant seat is found.
[0024]
The fourth seat reservation server of the present invention is a user who has registered a reservation database storage section storing reservation status information of a designated seat of a train, and user identification, password, settlement method, and default designation of request items related to seats. A seat reservation server in which an information storage unit is connected to a screen information storage unit that stores train search screen information, item input screen information, and settlement screen information. If the received user identification and password are registered in the user information storage unit, a train search is performed when a train search request, a boarding date, and a boarding section are received from the user terminal and a train search screen information. Train search processing means to return the train identification to be received, the item input screen request is received, the item input screen information and the default instruction of the user And whether there is a designation from the user terminal for each item of the boarding date, train designation, section and number of passengers and passenger seat grade of designated seat, non-smoking car / smokerable car, seat position, in-vehicle position classification, vehicle position classification The priority search between the specified items, the selection value of the specified item, and the priority within the item when selecting multiple items are received, and the item specified as one selection value is an absolute condition. , Search for vacant seats using the absolute condition and the first desired condition as the desired condition, and change or remove the desired condition according to the priority between items and the priority within the item until a vacant seat is found. Finds a vacant seat that satisfies the absolute conditions and is closest to the first desired condition, and returns a reservation search processing means for returning this and the charge amount to the requesting terminal, and a reservation instruction from the user terminal. Send and return Presents the received card information and the amount of the fee, sends a transfer request to the card company terminal, receives a settlement or permission thereof, and confirms the reservation of the seat corresponding to the reservation status information according to the instructions of the settlement processing means And a reservation confirmation processing means for transmitting a seat reservation ticket redemption code to the user terminal.
[0025]
The fifth seat reservation server of the present invention includes a reservation database storage unit storing reservation status information of a designated seat of each train, and a free seat presence / absence information storage unit storing information indicating whether a train has a free seat. It is a connected seat reservation server, which receives train designation, boarding section and seat conditions from the terminal via the network, and uses them to search the reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit, and if there is no suitable vacant seat, the free Reservation by referring to the presence / absence information, confirming that there are unreserved seats in the specified train, removing a part of the boarding section, searching for vacant seats, and returning the vacant seat information as a result to the requesting terminal via the network It has a search processing means.
[0026]
The first program of the present invention acquires a designation relating to a train, a vehicle location classification, a condition relating to a designated seat including a vehicle location classification, and a condition acquisition transmission procedure for transmitting these to a seat reservation server, and suitable vacant seat information. When receiving from the seat reservation server, the computer executes a reservation instruction procedure for displaying it, receiving a confirmation input, and transmitting a reservation instruction to the seat reservation server.
[0027]
The second program of the present invention receives a reservation search request and designation relating to a train from a terminal, and conditions relating to a designated seat including a position classification in a vehicle and a vehicle position classification, and a reservation database is stored using these designations and conditions. Reservation search processing procedure for searching for reservation status information of a part and returning suitable vacant seat information to a requesting terminal, and reservation confirmation processing for receiving a reservation instruction from the terminal and confirming reservation of a corresponding seat of the reservation status information And having the computer execute the procedure.
[0028]
The third program of the present invention uses the input means to specify whether or not a designated seat passenger class, non-smoking car / smokerable car, seat position, in-vehicle position classification, and vehicle position classification are designated and not designated. It is characterized by causing a computer to execute a procedure for acquiring a priority order, a selection value of an item to be specified, and an intra-item priority order when selecting a plurality.
[0029]
According to a fourth program of the present invention, the presence / absence of designation and priority among designated items are specified for each item of a passenger seat grade of a designated seat, a non-smoking car / smoking enabled car, a seat position, a vehicle position classification, and an in-vehicle position classification from a terminal. Receives the priority, the selection value of the item to be specified, and the priority within the item when multiple items are selected, the item specified as one selection value is an absolute condition, the other items are the desired conditions, and the absolute Search the reservation status information in the reservation database storage section with the condition and the first desired condition, and if there is no vacancy, search by changing or removing the desired condition according to the priority between items and the priority within the item until a vacant seat is found. The computer is caused to execute a reservation search processing procedure for finding a vacant seat closest to the first desired condition and returning it to the requesting terminal.
[0030]
The fifth program of the present invention refers to busy / low information stored in the environmental information storage unit and indicating whether or not the train is in a busy season or busy time before starting the reservation reception of each train. If specified, the seat allocation condition flag in the reservation database storage unit is set, and when the reservation acceptance is started, the final seat reservation rate is regularly predicted. If the predicted value exceeds a predetermined value, The allocation condition setting procedure for canceling the allocation condition, and the reservation search request, the specification regarding the train and the condition regarding the specified seat are received from the terminal through the network, and the reservation database storage unit uses these specifications and conditions and the allocation condition flag. Retrieving reservation status information and causing a computer to execute a reservation search processing procedure for returning suitable vacant seat information to a requesting terminal via a network That.
[0031]
When the sixth program of the present invention receives an access from the user terminal, the transmitted user identification and the procedure for transmitting the train search screen information if the password is registered in the user information storage unit, and the train search from the user terminal Receives request, boarding date and boarding section, performs train search, returns train identification process procedure, receives item input screen request from user terminal, and designates user default from user information storage unit The procedure to read this and return the item input screen information, boarding date, train designation from the user terminal, section and number of passengers and passenger seat grade of designated seat, non-smoking car / smoking enabled car, seat position, in-vehicle position classification, vehicle position Reservation search request with the presence or absence of designation for each item in the category, the priority between the designated items, the selection value of the designated item, and the priority within the item when selecting multiple items If the selected item is specified as one of the absolute conditions, the other items are set as the desired conditions, and the reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit is searched with the absolute conditions and the first desired conditions. If there is no vacant seat, search by changing or removing the desired conditions according to the priority between items and the priority within the item until the vacant seat is found, find the vacant seat that satisfies the absolute condition and is closest to the first desired condition, and request this and its fee Reservation search processing procedure to reply to the original terminal, the reservation instruction from the user terminal is received, the settlement screen is transmitted, the returned card information and the fee amount are presented, the transfer request is transmitted to the card company terminal, The seat corresponding to the reservation status information is updated to reservation confirmed by the settlement processing procedure for receiving the settlement or permission and the instruction of the settlement processing means, and the seat reservation ticket redemption code is transmitted to the user terminal. Wherein the executing and about confirmation processing procedure in the computer.
[0032]
The seventh program of the present invention receives train designation, boarding section and seat conditions from the terminal through the network, and searches for reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit using these, and if there is no suitable vacant seat, it is free from the storage unit Reservation search that reads out seat availability information, confirms that there are unreserved seats on the specified train, removes a part of the boarding section, searches for available seats, and returns the resulting seat availability information to the requesting terminal via the network The processing procedure is executed by a computer.
[0033]
The first train seat reservation method according to the present invention includes a condition acquisition transmission procedure for acquiring a designation relating to a train, conditions in a vehicle, a condition relating to a designated seat including a vehicle position classification, and transmitting them to a seat reservation server; And a reservation search processing procedure for searching for reservation status information in the reservation database using these designations and conditions, and returning suitable vacant seat information to the requesting terminal.
[0034]
The seat reservation method for the second train of the present invention is the seat reservation method for the first train, wherein the designation relating to the train and the passenger car class of the designated seat, the non-smoking car / smoking enabled car, the seat position, and the in-vehicle position classification , To obtain the presence / absence of designation for each item of the vehicle position classification, the priority between the designated items, the selection value of the designated item, and the priority within the item when selecting a plurality, and send these to the seat reservation server The condition acquisition transmission procedure and the items that have been received and specified as one selection value are absolute conditions, the other items are the desired conditions, and the reservation status information in the reservation database is searched with the absolute conditions and the first desired conditions. If there is no vacant seat, search by changing the desired condition according to the priority between items and the priority within the item until it is found, satisfy the absolute condition, find the vacant seat closest to the first desired condition, and find this On the terminal Characterized in that it comprises a search reservation procedure to Shin.
[0035]
According to the third train seat reservation method of the present invention, the busy / loose information indicating whether or not the train is in a busy season or busy time zone is referred to before the reservation reception start of each train, and busyness is designated. If the seat assignment condition flag of the corresponding train in the reservation database is set, and the reservation acceptance is started, the final seat reservation rate is periodically predicted. If the predicted value exceeds a predetermined value, the assignment is performed. The allocation condition setting procedure for canceling the condition, the reservation search request, the designation regarding the train and the condition regarding the designated seat are received from the terminal, and the reservation status information in the reservation database is searched using these designation and conditions and the allocation condition flag. And a reservation search processing procedure for returning suitable vacant seat information to the requesting terminal.
[0036]
According to the fourth train seat reservation method of the present invention, when access is received from the user terminal, if the transmitted user identification and password are registered in the user information, the train search screen information is transmitted, and the user terminal Train search request, boarding date and boarding section are received, train search is performed, train search processing procedure to return the corresponding train identification, item input screen request is received from user terminal, and default specification of user information is read This is the procedure for returning the item input screen information, the boarding date from the user terminal, the train designation, the section and the number of passengers and the passenger seat grade of the designated seat, the non-smoking car / smoking enabled car, the seat position, the in-vehicle position classification, the vehicle position classification Receiving a reservation search request with the presence or absence of designation for each item, the priority between designated items, the selection value of the designated item, and the priority within the item when selecting multiple items, and the selected value The item specified as one is an absolute condition, the other items are the desired conditions, the reservation status information in the reservation database is searched with the absolute condition and the first desired condition, and if there is no vacancy, there is no space between items Search by changing or removing desired conditions according to priority and priority within the item, finding a vacant seat that satisfies the absolute condition and closest to the first desired condition, and returns this and its fee to the requesting terminal Payment that receives the processing procedure and the reservation instruction from the user terminal, sends the payment screen, presents the returned card information and the charge amount, sends the transfer request to the card company terminal, and receives the payment or permission A processing procedure and a reservation confirmation processing procedure for updating a seat corresponding to the reservation status information to reservation confirmation according to an instruction of the settlement processing means and transmitting a seat designation ticket redemption code to the user terminal. And wherein the Mukoto.
[0037]
According to the fifth train seat reservation method of the present invention, the train designation, boarding section and seat conditions are received from the terminal through the network, and the reservation status information in the reservation database is searched using them. Reservation search processing procedure that refers to the presence / absence information, confirms that there are unreserved seats on the specified train, removes a part of the boarding section, searches for available seats, and returns the resulting seat availability information to the requesting terminal It is characterized by including.
[0038]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, a train seat reservation system according to the present invention includes a seat reservation server 1, a station window terminal 3, a travel agency terminal 4, an automatic ticket vending machine 5, and a dedicated network or a communication network such as the Internet. 9.
[0039]
The terminal device is not limited to the configuration including all of the station window terminal 3, the travel agency terminal 4, and the automatic ticket vending machine 5, and includes at least one of them.
[0040]
As a first example of this embodiment, the case of the station window terminal 3 and the travel agency terminal 4 will be described as terminal devices.
[0041]
Referring to FIG. 2, as an example of transmitting the desired conditions for the train seat in the train seat reservation system of the present invention, the user's desire for the train seat is written on a dedicated sheet or stored in an IC card, so that the station counter This is transmitted to the terminal operator of the terminal 3 or the travel agency terminal 4.
[0042]
The seat reservation server 1 includes not only information on seat availability of each train on the specified date, but also information on whether it is a leisure or busy season depending on whether it is a tourist season, the year-end and New Year holidays, the time of the Bon Festival, whether it is summer vacation, etc. An environment information storage unit for each train, such as information on whether it is busy or busy, whether it is busy or not, and whether it is busy or not, is incorporated.
[0043]
Furthermore, according to the quiet / busy period information of each train in the environmental information storage unit, seat assignment conditions are initially set, the seat reservation status after that is grasped in time, and seat reservations are determined by comparing with past examples. An allocation condition setting means for predicting the rate and changing the seat allocation condition is provided.
[0044]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. The orderer informs a terminal operator such as a station window or a travel agency of the desired train seat conditions written on a dedicated sheet as shown in FIG. 2 or stored in an IC card or magnetic card.
[0045]
Of course, the boarding date you want to reserve, the number of passengers, the train name, and the number are essential items. Here, the seating conditions are, for example, passenger car class distinction, smoking cessation, smoking distinction, window side, passage side distinction, vehicle front row, front, center, rear or rear row distinction, train car distinction, etc. It is. These conditions are given priority and absolute conditions.
[0046]
In addition, a distinction (preferential treatment designation) such as whether or not accompanying a small child who does not require a ticket, whether pregnant or disabled, may be described.
[0047]
In the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the reservation person is one person and hopes for smoking cessation, green car, window side, near the center of the vehicle, near the center of the train in this order of priority. Because only one is selected, smoking cessation is an absolute requirement.
[0048]
The station window terminal 3 and the travel agency terminal 4 display the input screen as in the sheet of FIG. 2 (at least the part below the entry point), and the terminal operator sets these items and priorities on the terminal along the input screen. It is input and transmitted to the seat reservation server 1 together with the reservation search request.
[0049]
The seat reservation server 1 searches with the highest priority designation of each item of the desired conditions, and when there is no search, changes the “vehicle position: near the center” at the lowest priority to “no hope” and searches.
[0050]
If there is no more, the second “position in the vehicle: near the center” from the bottom of the priority order is changed to “position in the vehicle: rear” to search. Hereinafter, when the seat is not found, the search is performed by changing or removing other than the absolute conditions.
[0051]
When the terminal receives vacant seat information that meets the absolute conditions, it confirms with the user and issues a ticket. When no match is received, the car to be reserved is changed to an earlier time and searched.
[0052]
Now, assume that a seat is found under the conditions of FIG. Next, there is another user's reservation, and the condition is shown in FIG. In this condition, since there are three reservation persons in the group, the group seat arrangement request is also described.
[0053]
For example, in this case, he wants a seat with three people side by side. Another example is if you want to sit in a romance seat (ie 7A, 7B, 8A, etc. for a vehicle with 4 rows of seats) or if you want to sit close to the aisle and be close. It may be the case that three people are lined up vertically, or that everyone is totally separated.
[0054]
Here, a seat with three people side by side is desired, but when allocating the seat, the margin allocation conditions set by the environment information and the reservation rate prediction in the reservation server are taken into consideration. In the case where no spare allocation is performed (current seat reservation arrangement), in order to arrange the seats efficiently, the seat positions of these three persons are No. 8 car No. 8 B, C, D as shown in FIG. Is arranged so as to be buried.
[0055]
It is necessary to fill the reserved seats efficiently with such a seating arrangement during the busy season, but in the off season, two pairs of four people line up side by side, and there may be no other person on the same vehicle. Absent. This is a result of bothering each other and customer dissatisfaction.
[0056]
Therefore, the seat reservation server determines the assignment conditions based on the environmental information, and in the off-season, it is determined that the seats of No. 12 B, C, and D are designated for the three person group as shown in FIG.
[0057]
In the busy season, even if there are no other reservations at the time of the two sets of reservations, it is determined that almost all seats will eventually be filled, and priority is given to efficiency to reserve 8B, 8C, and 8D seats.
[0058]
The off-season and the busy season are judgments about a certain period, but the seat assignment ratio of the train or vehicle is determined at that point in time while the degree of seat assignment is captured on the time axis and compared with past data. The seat reservation ticket reservation server of the present invention also has a system that makes a decision at that time and changes the seat specification method to suit the circumstances.
[0059]
For example, FIG. 7 is a graph of standard seat reservation rate examples (solid line), actual seat reservation results (dotted line), and seat reservation rate prediction (dashed line) from the start of reservation of the designated train in the off season 10 days ago. .
[0060]
In this example, the seat reservation rate is estimated to be 60% due to the low season, and the designated seats are arranged to vary as much as possible from the start of the reservation. However, the seat designation suddenly filled up around 15 days ago, and it was judged that there was a possibility that the seats would become full 10 days ago compared with the past example.
[0061]
Specifically, seat designation is performed so that customers who are not in a group are not adjacent to each other until 10 days ago, but seats are designated next to each other even if they are not in a group from 10 days ago.
[0062]
This is not only because of the efficient filling of seats, but also for customers who decide to avoid situations where two or three customers who may make reservations after this are forced to assign seats separately. It is also a way to achieve satisfaction.
[0063]
Also, in this example, the final seat reservation rate is determined to exceed 100%, so the station on that day is considered congested. Arrangements to increase security guards, in-car sales, purchases at station stores, In addition, it is possible to make an advance prediction of arrangements for increasing the number of vehicles.
[0064]
Furthermore, for a single passenger with a small child who does not need a ticket, the seat reservation server 1 has a judgment for customer service to block (vacant seats) the adjacent seats unless the train is full.
[0065]
This is a measure for increasing customer satisfaction, and is an allocation condition judgment means for preferential people who gently respond to weak people. Even if you make a mistake, you can't make a decision to leave the seat next to a low-morale customer who would fill up the seat next to the mother with the infant and occupy a few seats if she was silent.
[0066]
If the desired conditions for seat designation are stored in an IC card or a magnetic card, the conditions will be presented faster, and if payment is made with the card, the payment time will be eliminated. Furthermore, if the card has a printing function, the train car and seat position can be printed, so that ticketing itself is not necessary. It is only necessary to hold it over the reading device at the ticket gate.
[0067]
Next, the configuration and operation of the present embodiment will be described more specifically. FIG. 8 (1) is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the station window terminal 3 and the travel agency terminal 4. The station window terminal 3 includes a communication device 301, an input device 302 such as a keyboard, a display device 303 such as a display, a card reader / writer 307, a ticket issuing device 306, a CPU 304 for controlling these programs, and a main storage device 305.
[0068]
The card reader / writer 307 is an IC card or magnetic card reader / writer. There is also an example in which a rewritable printing function is provided on the card display.
[0069]
FIG. 8 (2) is a diagram showing details of the station window terminal 3 and the travel agency terminal 4. The condition acquisition and transmission means 31 that acquires the designation relating to the train and the conditions relating to the designated seat through the input device 302 or the card reader / writer 307 and transmits them to the seat reservation server 1, and displays and confirms when the corresponding vacant seat information is received. A reservation instructing means 32 and a ticket issuing instructing means 33 for receiving an input and transmitting a reservation instruction to the seat reservation server 1 are included. These can be realized by a program executed by the CPU 304.
[0070]
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the seat reservation server 1 and the external storage device 2 connected thereto. The seat reservation server 1 includes a communication device 101, an input device 102 such as a keyboard, a display device 103 such as a display, an output device 106, a CPU 104 that controls these programs, and a main storage device 105.
[0071]
Turning to FIG. 10, the external storage device 2 includes an environment information storage unit 21, a reservation DB (database) storage unit 22, a charge information storage unit 24, an operation information storage unit 23, and a sales information storage unit 26.
[0072]
As shown in FIG. 11, the environment information storage unit 21 indicates whether the busy period A, the busy period B, or the busy time is applied for each train name. In relation to this, information indicating what time the busy periods A and B are and what time zone the busy time zone is also held.
[0073]
In addition, for each train name, the past reservation rate transition in the standard low season and the standard reservation rate transition in the busy season are also maintained.
[0074]
Furthermore, it also holds train reservation rate transition information for each operation day of each train. Here, the reservation rate is the percentage of the number of seats whose train reservation is confirmed with respect to the number of passengers, and it does not include the space seats allocated in excess.
[0075]
As shown in FIG. 12, in the reservation DB storage unit 22, the train name, the operation date, the operation section, the allocation condition (for general users, for the preferential users), the attributes of each vehicle, as train information in units of operation days of each train. (Normal / green, non-smoking car, vehicle position classification). In addition, as the reservation information of each vehicle, the reservation confirmation section of each seat is divided into in-vehicle position division blocks and held.
[0076]
The allocation condition S (space) is instruction information (flag) that secures a vacant seat between the other persons so that the other persons are not adjacent to each other and execute the seat allocation. If this is 0, a vacant seat section (a section with no reservation or no reservation) is simply assigned to the request section of the reservation requester. R, R, R for 8A seats indicate that all sections have been reserved, R,-,-for 1C seats indicate that the first section (Tokyo-Utsunomiya) has been reserved, and T, T, T for 1A seats represent all sections Indicates that the preferential person has reserved. P, P, and P represent all section suspension (temporary reservation).
[0077]
Returning to FIG. 10, the fee information storage unit 24 holds designated fee amount information of a train with a seat designation. The operation information storage unit 23 holds train operation information for each direction.
[0078]
In the sales information storage unit 26, the reserved seat fee that is pre-sold by confirming the reservation in the travel agency terminal 4 is recorded for each travel agency.
[0079]
The seat reservation server 1 includes communication processing means 11, assignment condition setting means 12, reservation search processing means 13, reservation confirmation / cancellation processing means 15, and train search processing means 14. Each of these is realized by a program executed by the CPU 104.
[0080]
When the reservation search processing means 13 receives a search request from the station window terminal 3 with the train designation, desired item and priority order, the reservation search processing means 13 first searches the reservation DB storage unit 22 with the logical product of the highest priority values of the designated items. However, if there is no suitable vacant seat, the search condition is changed or reduced according to the priority order between items and the priority order specified in the item, and a vacant seat is searched.
[0081]
The allocation condition setting means 12 checks the quiet / busy period information of each train in the environment information storage unit 21 of the target train on the day before the reservation acceptance start, and if it is not a busy period or a busy time period, the reservation DB The seat assignment condition of the target train in the storage unit 22 is initially set to (S, S), the seat reservation rate transition information of the subsequent seats is referred to predict the final (the day) seat reservation rate, and a predetermined value (for example, 60 %)), The allocation condition is changed to (0, S).
[0082]
If the predicted value for the daily exceeds a second predetermined value (for example, 90%), the allocation condition is reset to (0, 0).
[0083]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
[0084]
First, the operation of the allocation condition setting means 12 of the seat reservation server 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The allocation condition setting means 12 reads the environmental information of the target train from the environmental information storage unit 21 on the day before the reservation start, and when the train does not have a busy period or the operation day is not a busy period, the allocation condition of the reservation DB storage unit 22 Is set to (S, S) (step A1).
[0085]
After that, it is activated by a timer at the time after operation in the daily, etc., the final reservation rate is predicted, and the allocation condition is reset according to the result (step A2).
[0086]
With reference to FIG. 14, the reserved seat selling operation for seat designation will be described. The user fills in the reservation conditions or writes in the IC card (step B1), and the station window terminal 3 inputs the train item, seat item, priority, train change condition, preferential treatment designation along the input screen. Acquired and held (step B2).
[0087]
Train item, seat item, priority, preferential designation and reservation search request are transmitted to the seat reservation server 1 (step B3).
[0088]
The reservation search processing means 13 of the seat reservation server 1 performs the vacant seat search of the designated train and section according to the desired designation item, priority order, and preferential designation, and transmits the result. When the result includes a seat number (search hit), the fee and TS (time stamp) are also transmitted, and the seat number, train designation, and TS are passed to the stack of the reservation confirmation / cancellation processing means 15. (Step B4).
[0089]
When receiving the seat number (step B5), the station window terminal 3 displays the seat number, its conditions, and the fee, confirms the user, and transmits the result and TS (step B6).
[0090]
The reservation confirmation / cancellation processing means 15 of the seat reservation server 1 receives the result (OK / NG), and if the TS is not older than the current time by a predetermined amount, the stack is pulled by the TS, and the seat number temporarily reserved by the OK is obtained. The reservation is confirmed and a re-response is returned, and the NG resets the temporary reservation (write R in the riding section of the seat in the reservation DB storage unit 22 or reset P (pending)) (step B7).
[0091]
The station window terminal 3 receives the re-response, passes the train (including the operation day), the section, and the seat number to the ticket issuing device 306 and issues a ticket (step B8).
[0092]
When the station window terminal 3 receives the corresponding absence, if the train has not been changed a predetermined number of times (step B9), the next train is determined according to the train change condition. For a train with a number, pull the table and change the number. If there is no number, the train is searched. If there is a next train, step B3 and the subsequent steps are repeated, and if there is not, the corresponding vacant seat is displayed and the process ends (step B10).
[0093]
The reservation confirmation / cancellation processing means 15 periodically checks the TS of the stacked information (e.g., every 5 minutes), extracts information after a predetermined time as a timeout, and resets the P (pending) of the seat. .
[0094]
The operation of the reservation search processing means 13 in step B4 will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.
[0095]
The reservation search processing means 13 acquires the allocation conditions and vehicle organization information of the target train from the reservation DB storage unit 22 (step B4-1), extracts the designation of priority 1 of each desired item, and sets it as the initial search condition (step B4-2).
[0096]
The vehicle organization information is referred to by specifying the vehicle grade, the non-smoking vehicle, and the vehicle position classification, the target vehicle range is determined, the reservation information is read out from the reservation DB storage unit 22, and the assignment condition is also reflected and searched (step B4-3).
[0097]
If there is a vacant space (step B4-4), temporarily secure it (P is added to the seating area), send the seat number, its conditions, and the fee amount with TS, and confirm the reservation. It is also handed over to the cancellation processing means 15 (step B4-8).
[0098]
If there is no vacancy, the next priority item is changed if there is the next designation (step B4-5), and the search is repeated. If the next priority item is not designated as the next item, it is determined whether the item with the higher priority item is only the absolute condition or the last item has been processed (step B4-6). The condition is removed (step B4-7), and step B4-5 is repeated. If there is any, no space is transmitted (step B4-9).
[0099]
Next, a second example of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The second embodiment includes, as a terminal, an automatic ticket vending machine 5 in which the purchaser himself designates the conditions for the designated seat.
[0100]
In the first embodiment, the user writes the desired seating conditions on a dedicated sheet, but the user inputs the conditions in the automatic ticket vending machine 5 having such a screen.
[0101]
In the station counter terminal 3 and the travel agency terminal 4 of the first embodiment, the staff at the station counter or the clerk at the travel agency operated the automatic ticket vending machine 5 in that the user inputs directly. Different.
[0102]
In this case, the priority can be determined by selecting the order of selection. Of course, in this case, the GUI is devised in order to make the screen easier for the user to understand than the input efficiency.
[0103]
FIG. 17 is an example of a seat condition input screen of the automatic ticket vending machine 5. For each condition, select the desired one from the condition with the highest priority on the touch panel, and instruct "Search". The seat reservation server 1 follows the priority and vacant seats for the number of people within the range including the absolute condition. The search is expanded until the condition is found, and the result is displayed. Finally, you can make a reservation by pressing the “Reserve” button. When the reservation is made, the payment method selection screen appears, and the payment method is selected and terminated.
[0104]
Further, the storage, input, and settlement of desired conditions can also be performed using an IC card or a magnetic card as in the first embodiment.
[0105]
Next, an outline of the operation of this embodiment will be described. Referring to FIG. 17, this screen is the next screen in which the user specifies the boarding date, train specification, departure / arrival station, and number of people on the train selection screen. The user selects smoking cessation, green, aisle side, selects the front position in the vehicle, selects the vicinity of the center of the vehicle, and is accompanied by a child. This is a state indicating that there is a vacancy near the center of the designated in-vehicle position.
[0106]
The condition that can be selected by the first choice is displayed as “1”, and in the case of the second choice, “2” is displayed. Since this user considers smoking cessation as the first priority, he chose to quit smoking first, but if this user cannot choose smoking cessation and this user considers smoking cessation as an absolute condition, the seat of this designated train is Since it is not possible to make a reservation, when you cannot select quit smoking, press the “Return to Train Selection” button to return to the train selection screen and select the train again.
[0107]
Conversely, it is possible to search for a train that meets the conditions without specifying a train. In this case, select only required conditions such as boarding date, approximate time, number of people, etc. on the train selection screen, and press the “Train Search” button on this screen. If there is a train that matches the conditions, the train name and number are displayed on the train selection screen. To make a reservation, press the “Reserve” button.
[0108]
The seat condition retrieval method and the environmental condition determination in the seat reservation server are the same as those in the first embodiment. Further, the storage and settlement of desired conditions can also be performed with an IC card or a magnetic card as in the first embodiment.
[0109]
Next, the configuration and operation of the present embodiment will be described more specifically. FIG. 18 (1) is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the automatic ticket vending machine 5. The automatic ticket vending machine 5 includes a communication device 501, an input device 502 such as a touch panel, a display device 503 such as a display, a card reader / writer 507, a ticket issuing device 506 and a money receiving device 508, a CPU 504 for controlling these, and a main storage device 505. Composed.
[0110]
The money receiving device 508 is an automatic money receiving device that discriminates inserted banknotes and inserted money, calculates the total amount thereof, and pays out a change amount if the amount is larger than the amount received by the CPU 504.
[0111]
FIG. 18 (2) is a block diagram showing the configuration of the processing means of the automatic ticket vending machine 5. Enter the boarding date and boarding section and receive a train search instruction to search for the train. When the relevant train identification is obtained, it is temporarily stored in the storage device and displayed, and one of the trains is selected and designated for the train. Train acquisition means 51 handed over to condition acquisition transmission means 52, condition acquisition transmission means 52, reservation instruction means 53, and ticket issuing instruction means 54.
[0112]
When the reservation instruction means 53 receives a suitable seat number, it displays the priority in the item corresponding to the seat number and the amount information for each item designated for the seat, receives confirmation input from the reservation person, and displays the amount information. When an instruction is given to the money receiving device 508 or the card reader / writer 507 and a receipt response is received from these, a reservation instruction is transmitted to the seat reservation server 1. These can be realized by a program executed by the CPU 504.
[0113]
The operation of this embodiment will be described more specifically with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The automatic ticket vending machine 5 displays the train search screen of FIG. 16 (Step C1), and transmits the section, boarding date, time zone, number of people and the arrangement of multiple times input along the screen to the seat reservation server 1 (Step S1). C2).
[0114]
The seat reservation server 1 searches for the specified conditions and transmits the corresponding train name, number and departure / arrival time (step C3), and the automatic ticket machine 5 displays the received train name, number and departure / arrival time. When one is selected and “To reservation” is instructed, the screen is switched to the item input screen (step C4). The designated item, priority, and boarding date, train name, and number entered along the input screen are transmitted (step C5).
[0115]
The seat reservation server 1 performs vacancy search for the designated train in accordance with the priority order and preferential designation, and transmits the result and the charge (when there are vacant seats) (step C6).
[0116]
Upon receiving the seat number, the automatic ticket vending machine 5 displays the seat number and the fee, and also displays the designation number of the item as the seat number on the selection button on the item input screen (step C8).
[0117]
When the seat number, the fee amount, etc. are confirmed and “reservation” is instructed, the money receiving device 508 is instructed to receive the fee amount, and when a receipt response is received, the reservation response is transmitted to the seat reservation server 1 to issue a ticket. (Step C9).
[0118]
The seat reservation server 1 confirms the reservation of the seat number temporarily secured (step C10).
[0119]
As described above, in the present embodiment, since the user himself searches or browses, it is possible to change the absolute conditions for the train designation or the seat designation depending on circumstances. This is not only about the seat preference, but can also be used by users with low vision or blind users by providing a voice generation device and a voice recognition device, for example.
[0120]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[0121]
The second embodiment of the present invention is a system and method for performing order information, which is a condition of a seat designation ticket, through a user's own terminal. In this case, as shown in FIG. 20, the user terminal 6 is connected to the seat reservation server 1 via a communication line such as the Internet.
[0122]
Also connected to the network 9 are a card company terminal 7 for a credit card used by a user and a financial institution terminal 8 which is a terminal of a financial institution including an account of a company operating a train.
[0123]
With regard to the desired conditions for the seat reservation ticket, if it is set as a default on the desired seat specification screen, it is not necessary to specify the request each time. The user registers in advance so that the user can log in to the seat designation screen, and the powered and settlement methods are determined. When the seat designation is completed and the purchase is decided, the price is settled according to a predetermined settlement method. About cancellation, if it cancels on a cancellation screen, settlement will be stopped. If the cancellation is after settlement, the amount after deducting a predetermined fee is refunded by a predetermined method.
[0124]
Next, the configuration and operation of this embodiment will be described more specifically. The user terminal 6 in FIG. 20 is an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer or a portable terminal (including a mobile phone). As hardware, a communication device, an input device such as a keyboard, a display device such as a display, and the like are program-controlled. Includes a CPU and main memory.
[0125]
It also has a browser for accessing websites on the Internet.
[0126]
Referring to FIG. 21, seat reservation server 1 </ b> A includes settlement processing means 16. When the user pays with a credit card or the like, the settlement processing means 16 presents the user personal information and the card number to the card company terminal 7 and requests that the reserved seat fee reserved by the user be transferred to the financial institution.
[0127]
The external storage device 2A also includes a user information storage unit 28 and a screen information storage unit 27. In the user information storage unit 28, user identification, password, user personal information, payment method, and default designation of desired information at the time of seat designation reservation are registered.
[0128]
The screen information storage unit 27 stores descriptions such as train search input screens, item input screens, payment screens to be transmitted to the user terminal, and HTML of their execution procedures.
[0129]
A specific operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. The user terminal 6 accesses the seat reservation server 1A, receives login screen information, designates user identification and password, and requests login (step D1).
[0130]
If the user identification and password are registered in the user information storage unit, the seat reservation server 1A transmits train search input screen information (step D2).
[0131]
The user terminal 6 displays a train search input screen and transmits the input section, boarding date, boarding time zone, number of people, etc. (step D3). The seat reservation server 1A searches the driving information storage unit 23 under specified conditions, and acquires and transmits the corresponding train name, number, and time information (step D4).
[0132]
The user terminal 6 displays the received train name and number, and when “to reservation” is instructed, stores the selected train name and transmits a next screen request (step D5). The seat reservation server 1A transmits the user's default designation read from the item input screen and the user information storage unit (step D6).
[0133]
The user terminal 6 displays the screen with the default designation embedded in the item switching screen. For example, the default designation is data in which values of a plurality of variables are defined, and is displayed after the item input screen information is substituted for variables of the input item, the priority within the item, and the priority between items. (Step D7). Then, preferential designation such as designated items, priority, boarding date, train name, number of passengers, number of people, etc. confirmed or re-input is transmitted (step D8).
[0134]
The seat reservation server 1A expands the search conditions in the range including the absolute conditions according to the priority order until the vacant seat is found, and performs the search according to the preferential designation. If there is a vacant seat, the fare information storage unit obtains the fare amount by section, grade, etc., and transmits the seat number, its conditions, and the fare amount, and if there is no vacant seat, transmits that fact (step D9).
[0135]
Upon receiving the seat number (step D10), the user terminal 6 displays the seat number, its conditions, and the charge amount, obtains purchase / non-use through the input means, and transmits the result to the reservation confirmation / cancellation processing means 15 ( Step D11).
[0136]
When the reservation confirmation / cancellation processing means 15 receives the purchase (step D12), it transmits the payment screen information (step D13), and the user terminal 6 acquires and transmits the credit card number and the like through the input means (step D14).
[0137]
The settlement processing means 16 of the seat reservation server 1A presents the user name, card number, and transfer destination to the card company terminal 7 and makes a transfer request (step D15).
[0138]
When the payment processing means 16 receives the transfer success from the card company terminal 7, it notifies the reservation confirmation / cancellation processing means 15, and the reservation confirmation / cancellation processing means 15 confirms the reservation (the section information is added to the seat number in the reservation DB storage unit 22). ) And send the exchange number. When the transfer impossible is received, the reservation confirmation / cancellation processing means 15 cancels the reservation of the seat number and transmits the payment impossible to the user terminal 6 (step D16). The user terminal 6 displays the received exchange code (password), the operation date, the train name, or the fact that the reservation is not possible because the payment is not possible (step D17).
[0139]
The user presents the exchange number, the user identification, the operation date, and the train name at the station window terminal 3 or the automatic ticket vending machine 5 and exchanges them for a reserved seat ticket or a corresponding IC card record.
[0140]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The third embodiment of the present invention is a system and method for specifying a seat while avoiding a short-distance seat reservation.
[0141]
Referring to FIG. 24, a specific station name will be described. For example, an attempt is made to make a reservation from Tokyo Station to Akita Station, but it is full. In this case, if there are already reserved seats from Omagari Station to Akita Station, which is just before Akita Station, even if the seat is vacant from Tokyo Station to Omagari Station, Tokyo Station to Akita Seats cannot be assigned to the station.
[0142]
Therefore, in order to solve this, the seat reservation server of this embodiment designates a seat from Tokyo Station to Omagari Station in such a case, and issues a ticket from Omagari Station to Akita Station as a free seat.
[0143]
Conversely, if there is a seat between Tokyo Station and Utsunomiya Station that has already been designated for this train, and the seats after Utsunomiya Station are vacant, this server will assign seats from Utsunomiya Station to Akita Station, and from Tokyo Station to Utsunomiya. Free seats to the station.
[0144]
For example, the item “Some seats can be reserved” is provided in the desired seat entry sheet, the input screen thereof, and the item input screen of the automatic ticket vending machine in FIG. Here, the items may be items up to the seat position (window side / passage side).
[0145]
In the reservation information in the reservation DB storage unit 22, reservation registration for each section is made possible for each seat.
[0146]
If the reserved search processing means 13 searches for a vacant part in the designated section of the designated train, and there is no vacancy, and there is a designation of “some seats can be reserved,” a part of the vehicle information includes a free seat. The section is removed and a vacancy search is performed, and if there is a corresponding seat, the section information is also added and returned to the requesting terminal side.
[0147]
Such a seat assignment method not only improves customer service, but also helps to reduce the congestion of free seats.
[0148]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, since it is possible to finely designate a desired seat for a designated seat, a customer can easily reserve a seat desired by the customer.
[0149]
In addition, if the priority order of the condition items and the priority order within the items are also specified, the conditions are automatically expanded in that order to search for vacant seats, so the seat closest to the customer's wish is presented in one instruction. The As a result, customer satisfaction can be improved.
Further, even if the customer does not particularly desire, the customer service can be improved by performing the seat designation method for the customer.
[0150]
Furthermore, by incorporating environmental situation judgment into the seat designation method using a computer, the seat designation method can be changed flexibly to achieve both efficiency and customer satisfaction.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a sheet and an input screen for describing train designation and desired seat conditions according to the first example of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of one person in the example of paper entry and the input example on the screen of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which a plurality of people are entered in the example of paper entry and the input example on the screen of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing seat allocation when no margin allocation is performed in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing seat assignment when performing margin assignment in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows a standard seat reservation rate example (solid line), a seat reservation result (dotted line), and a seat reservation rate estimate (dashed line) from the reservation start to the day of the designated train in the off season in the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure.
8 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the station window terminal 3 and the travel agency terminal 4 in FIG. 1, and (2) is a diagram showing a configuration of the station window terminal 3 and the travel agency terminal 4. FIG. .
9 is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of the seat reservation server 1 of FIG. 1 and an external storage device 2 connected thereto.
10 is a diagram showing details of the seat reservation server 1 of FIG. 1 and an external storage device 2 connected thereto. FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of contents of the environment information storage unit 21 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of contents of a reservation DB storage unit 22 according to the first embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a train search screen according to a second example of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a seat condition input screen according to a second example of the first embodiment of the present invention.
18A is a diagram showing a hardware configuration of an automatic ticket vending machine 5 according to a second example of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 18B is a diagram showing a configuration of the automatic ticket vending machine 5. FIG.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second example of the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 20 is a system configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 21 is a diagram showing details of the seat reservation server 1A and the external storage device 2A in FIG.
FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 24 is a view for explaining a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 1A Seat reservation server
11 Communication processing means
12 Condition setting means
13 Reservation search processing means
14 Train search processing means
15 Reservation confirmation / cancellation processing means
16 Payment processing means
2, 2A External storage device
21 Environment information storage
22 Reservation DB storage
23 Operation information storage
24 Fee information storage
26 Sales information storage
27 Screen information storage unit
28 User information storage unit
3 Station window terminal
31 Condition acquisition transmission means
32 Reservation instruction means
33 Ticketing instruction means
4 travel agency terminals
5 Automatic ticket vending machines
51 Train search means
52 Condition acquisition transmission means
53 Reservation instruction means
54 Ticketing instruction means
6 User terminal
7 Card company terminal
8 Financial institution terminals
9 Network

Claims

A system in which a terminal requesting reservation of a designated seat of a train and a seat reservation server to which a reservation database storage unit storing reservation status information of a designated seat of a train is connected are network-connected, and the terminal is a train The condition acquisition and transmission means for acquiring the designation relating to the designated seat and the conditions relating to the designated seat through the input means and transmitting them to the seat reservation server, and when the appropriate vacant seat information is received, it is displayed and a confirmation input is received to the seat reservation server. Reservation instruction processing means for transmitting, the seat reservation server searches for reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit using the received conditions, and returns reservation information corresponding to the vacant seat information to the requesting terminal via the network A reservation confirmation processing means for receiving a reservation instruction from the terminal and confirming a reservation of a corresponding seat in the reservation status information, The condition acquisition / transmission means can also acquire the in-vehicle position classification and the vehicle position classification as conditions relating to the designated seat, and if the reservation search processing means includes the in-vehicle position classification and the vehicle position classification, the reservation status information is also used. A train seat reservation system that searches and returns suitable vacant seat information.

The condition acquisition and transmission means of the terminal specifies whether or not there is designation for each item of the passenger seat grade of the designated seat, non-smoking car / smoking allowed car, seat position, in-vehicle position classification, and vehicle position classification, and the priority order between the designated items and designation The selection value of the item to be selected and the priority within the item when selecting a plurality of items are acquired and transmitted to the seat reservation server, and the item for which the reservation search processing means is specified as one selection value is regarded as an absolute condition, Search for a vacant seat with the absolute condition and the first desired condition as the desired condition, and if there is no available seat, search by changing the desired condition according to the priority between items and the priority within the item until it is found, and satisfy the absolute condition 2. The train seat reservation system according to claim 1, wherein a vacant seat closest to the first desired condition is found and returned to the requesting terminal.

The terminal is an automatic ticket vending machine operated by the reservation person himself to make a reservation for a train seat. This includes a cash receiving device or a card reader / writer. The automatic ticket vending machine receives a train search instruction by inputting the boarding date and boarding section. Train search means, and when the corresponding train identification is obtained, they are temporarily stored and displayed in a storage device, and one of the relevant trains is selected and passed to the condition acquisition transmission means as a designation for the train, and a condition The acquisition instruction means includes an acquisition transmission means and a reservation instruction means. When the reservation instruction means receives a suitable seat number, it displays the priority within the item corresponding to the seat number for each item designated for the seat, and the amount information, and the reservation person When the confirmation input is received, the amount information is instructed to the money receiving device or the card reader / writer, and when the receipt response is received from these, the reservation instruction is transmitted to the seat reservation server. Train seat reservation system of claim 2 wherein.

A system in which a reservation request for a designated seat of a train and a seat reservation server are connected to the network, and the seat reservation server stores a reservation database storage unit in which reservation status information of a designated seat of the train is stored, and a train An environmental condition information storage unit that stores busy / busy information indicating whether the train is in a busy season or during a busy time period is also connected, and the reservation database storage unit is adjacent to other people when assigning seats to reservation requesters. An allocation condition flag not to be associated with the train, and the terminal has condition acquisition and transmission means for acquiring a condition relating to the train and a condition relating to the designated seat, and transmitting the condition together with a reservation search request to the seat reservation server via the network. The server searches the reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit using the received conditions, and finds the matching vacant seat information at the request source terminal. The reservation search processing means for replying to the network, and referring to the busy / busy information before starting the reservation reception of the train, if busy is specified, the allocation condition flag is set, and the reservation reception is started The final seat reservation rate is regularly predicted, and if the predicted value exceeds a predetermined value, the allocation condition setting means for canceling the allocation condition is provided, and the reservation search processing means searches for reservation status information, A train seat reservation system that finds a vacant seat by excluding a seat adjacent to a reserved seat if an allocation condition flag is set when finding a vacant seat.

The condition acquisition and transmission means of the terminal also acquires and transmits the preferential designation, and the reservation database storage unit holds the preferential person in addition to the general person as the assignment condition flag, and the assignment condition of the seat reservation server If the setting means refers to the busy / busy information and busyness is specified, the allocation condition flag for both the general public and the preferential person is set, and the final seat reservation rate is periodically determined after the reservation reception starts. If the predicted value exceeds the first predetermined value but is less than or equal to the second predetermined value greater than the first predetermined value, only the general allocation condition flag is canceled, and the predicted value is the second 5. The train seat reservation system according to claim 4, wherein an allocation condition flag for preferential users is also canceled when a predetermined value is exceeded.

The terminal is used as a terminal of a train station or a travel agency terminal that makes a train seat reservation, and the condition acquisition and transmission means designates a train as well as a boarding date, a boarding section, and a desired train. Train change conditions when there are no vacant seats that meet the conditions included, that is, trains with early departure time, late trains, both conditions can be acquired as optional additions through the input means, the desired train to the seat reservation server The reservation search request including the seat condition is transmitted, and if there is no suitable vacant seat and the train change condition is acquired, the train designation is changed accordingly and the reservation search request is made to the seat reservation server. The seat reservation system for a train according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, and 5.

A system in which a user terminal requesting reservation of a designated seat of a train, a seat reservation server, and a terminal of a card company are network-connected, and reservation status information of a designated seat of each train is stored in the seat reservation server Reservation database storage unit, user information storage unit registered with user identification, password, payment method, default designation of request items related to seat, train search screen information, item input screen information, payment screen information stored A means for transmitting train search screen information if connected to a screen information storage unit, the seat reservation server receives access from a user terminal, and the transmitted user identification and password are registered in the user information storage unit; The train search processing hand that receives the train search request, boarding date and boarding section from the user terminal, searches for the train, and returns the corresponding train identification. When the item input screen request is received, the means for returning the item input screen information and the default designation of the user, the boarding date, the train designation from the user terminal, the section and the number of passengers and the passenger seat grade of the designated seat, the non-smoking car / not, Reservation search request with the presence / absence of designation for each item of the seat position, in-vehicle position classification, and vehicle position classification, the priority between the specified items, the selection value of the specified item, and the priority within the item when selecting multiple items The item specified with one selected value is set as an absolute condition, the other items are set as desired conditions, and a vacancy search is performed with the absolute conditions and the first desired condition. Search by changing or removing the desired condition according to the priority between items and the priority within the item, satisfying the absolute condition, find the vacant seat closest to the first desired condition, and return this and its fee to the requesting terminal. Receiving the reservation instruction from the search processing means and the user terminal, sending the settlement screen, presenting the returned card information and fee amount, sending the transfer request to the card company terminal, and receiving the settlement or permission A payment processing means, and a reservation confirmation processing means for updating a seat corresponding to the reservation status information to reservation confirmation according to an instruction of the payment processing means, and transmitting a seat designation ticket redemption code to the user terminal. Train seat reservation system.

A system in which a terminal requesting reservation of a designated seat of a train and a seat reservation server are network-connected, and the seat reservation server includes a reservation database storage unit in which reservation status information of a designated seat of a train is stored; A condition acquisition transmission means for connecting a free seat presence / absence information storage unit storing information indicating whether there is a free seat, the terminal acquires conditions relating to the train designation, the boarding section, and the designated seat and transmits them to the seat reservation server. The seat reservation server searches the reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit using the train designation, boarding section and seat condition, and if there is no suitable vacant seat, the seat reservation server is designated by referring to the free seat presence / absence information. Confirm that there are free seats in the train, remove some sections of the boarding section, search for available seats, and return the seat availability information to the requesting terminal via the network. Train seat reservation system characterized by having a scheduled scan processing means.

The terminal condition acquisition / transmission means acquires, as an optional additional condition, whether or not a seat can be reserved for a part of the boarding section, and the reservation search processing means, when the condition is possible, the boarding section If there is no vacant seat that meets the seating conditions and there is a free seat on the designated train, a part of the boarding section is removed and a vacant seat search is performed, and the resulting vacant seat information is sent to the requesting terminal via the network. 9. The train seat reservation system according to claim 8, wherein a reply is made.

It is a seat reservation server to which a reservation database storage unit that stores reservation status information of designated seats of trains is connected, receives reservation search requests, train specifications and seat conditions from the terminal via the network, and these specifications Reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit using the search conditions and conditions, reservation search processing means for returning suitable vacant seat information to the requesting terminal via the network, and receiving a reservation instruction from the terminal, the reservation status information Reservation confirmation processing means for confirming the reservation of the corresponding seat of the vehicle, and if the reservation search processing means designates the position classification in the vehicle and the vehicle position classification as conditions relating to the seat, the reservation status information is also searched using them. And a seat reservation server characterized by returning suitable seat availability information.

The reservation search processing means, from the terminal, specifies whether or not to specify the passenger seat grade of the designated seat, the non-smoking car / smoking enabled car, the seat position, the vehicle position category, and the in-vehicle location category, and the priority order between the designated items. The selection value of the item to be specified and the priority within the item when selecting multiple items are received, the item specified as one selection value is the absolute condition, the other items are the desired conditions, the absolute condition and the first Search for vacant seats with the desired conditions, and if there are no vacant seats, change or remove the desired conditions according to the priority between items and priorities within the item until a vacant seat is found, satisfy the absolute conditions and find the vacant seat closest to the first desired condition The seat reservation server according to claim 10, wherein the seat reservation server is returned to the requesting terminal.

Reservation database storage section that stores reservation status information on designated seats of trains, assignment condition flag that does not allow others to be adjacent to each other when assigning seats to reservation requesters, and whether the train is in a busy season or busy time zone A seat reservation server connected to an environmental condition information storage unit storing busy / busy information indicating whether or not busyness is designated by referring to the busy / busy information before reservation reception for each train is started. For example, an assignment condition setting means for setting the assignment condition flag, periodically predicting a final seat reservation rate when reservation acceptance is started, and releasing the assignment condition if the predicted value exceeds a predetermined value And a reservation search request, a designation relating to a train, and a condition relating to a designated seat from a terminal through the network, and the reservation using the designation and condition and the assignment condition flag It has reservation search processing means for searching for reservation status information in the database storage unit and returning suitable vacant seat information to the requesting terminal via the network, and when this searches for reservation status information and finds a vacant seat, an allocation condition flag is set. A seat reservation server that, if set, finds a vacant seat by excluding a seat adjacent to a reserved seat.

Reservation database storage unit storing reservation status information of designated seat of train, user information storage unit registered with user identification, password, settlement method, default specification of request items related to seat, train search screen information, items A seat reservation server connected to a screen information storage unit in which input screen information and screen information for payment are stored, and when received from a user terminal through a network, the transmitted user identification and password are stored in the user information storage Means for transmitting train search screen information if registered in the department, train search processing means for performing train search upon receiving a train search request, boarding date and boarding section from the user terminal, and returning the corresponding train identification; Means for receiving the item input screen request, returning the item input screen information and the default designation of the user, and the user terminal. Entry date, train designation, section and number of passengers and class of passengers in designated seats, non-smoking cars / smokerable cars, seat positions, in-vehicle position classifications, presence / absence of designation and priority between designated items Receiving a reservation search request with the selection value of the specified item and the priority within the item when selecting multiple items, the item specified as one selection value is an absolute condition, and the other items are the desired conditions , Search for a vacant seat with the absolute condition and the first desired condition, and if there is no vacant seat, change or remove the desired condition according to the priority between items and the priority within the item until a vacant seat is found. Reservation search processing means that finds the vacant seat closest to the conditions, and returns this and its fee amount to the requesting terminal, receives a reservation instruction from the user terminal, sends a settlement screen, and returns the card information Charge amount The payment processing means for sending the transfer request to the credit card company terminal and receiving the payment or permission thereof, the seat corresponding to the reservation status information is updated to the reservation confirmed by the instruction of the payment processing means, and the seat specified ticket redemption code And a reservation confirmation processing means for transmitting to the user terminal.

A reservation database storage unit storing reservation status information of designated seats of each train, a seat reservation server connected to a free seat presence / absence information storage unit storing information indicating whether a train has a free seat, and a terminal The train designation, boarding section and seat conditions are received through the network, and the reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit is searched using these, and if there is no vacant seat, the free seat presence / absence information is referred to and the designated train A reservation search processing means for confirming that there is an unoccupied seat, removing a part of the boarding section, searching for a vacant seat, and returning the vacant seat information as a result to the requesting terminal via the network Reservation server.

The condition acquisition transmission procedure for acquiring the designation relating to the train, the vehicle location classification, the conditions relating to the designated seat including the vehicle location classification, and transmitting them to the seat reservation server, and the matching vacant seat information received from the seat reservation server A program for causing a computer to execute a reservation instruction procedure for displaying and receiving confirmation input and transmitting a reservation instruction to a seat reservation server.

Reservation search request and designation related to trains from the terminal, and conditions related to the designated seat including the position classification in the vehicle and the vehicle position classification, and the reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit is searched using these designations and conditions, Reservation search processing procedure for returning suitable vacant seat information to requesting terminal, and reservation confirmation processing procedure for receiving reservation instruction from said terminal and confirming reservation of corresponding seat of reservation status information program.

Through the input means, for each item of the passenger seat grade of the designated seat, non-smoking car / smoking allowed car, seat position, in-vehicle position classification, vehicle position classification, whether to specify, the priority between the specified items and the selection value of the specified items And a program for causing a computer to execute a procedure for acquiring the priority within an item when selecting a plurality of items.

From the terminal, whether or not there is a designation for each item of the passenger seat grade of the designated seat, non-smoking car / smoking allowed car, seat position, vehicle position classification, in-vehicle position classification, the priority order between the designated items, and the selection value of the designated item Receiving the priority in the item when selecting multiple items, the item specified as one selection value is an absolute condition, the other items are the desired conditions, and the absolute condition and the first desired condition are reserved. Search the reservation status information in the database storage section. If there is no vacant seat, change or remove the desired condition according to the priority between items and the priority within the item until a vacant seat is found, satisfy the absolute condition and satisfy the first desired condition. A program for causing a computer to execute a reservation search processing procedure for finding a nearby vacant seat and returning this to the requesting terminal.

Busy / quiet information stored in the environmental information storage section that indicates whether the train is in a busy season or busy time period is referred to before starting the reservation reception of each train, and if busy is specified, the reservation database is stored. The seat allocation condition flag is set, the final seat reservation rate is periodically predicted when reservation acceptance is started, and the allocation condition is canceled if the predicted value exceeds a predetermined value And a reservation search request, a specification related to a train, and a condition related to a designated seat are received from the terminal through the network, and the reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit is searched using these designations and conditions and the allocation condition flag to be adapted. A program for causing a computer to execute a reservation search processing procedure for returning vacant seat information to a requesting terminal via a network.

Upon receiving access from the user terminal, if the transmitted user identification and password are registered in the user information storage unit, a procedure for transmitting train search screen information, a train search request from the user terminal, a boarding date, and a boarding section The train search processing procedure for receiving the train search, returning the corresponding train identification, and receiving the item input screen request from the user terminal, reading the user's default designation from the user information storage unit, and the item input screen information Procedures for replying and whether there is designation for each item of boarding date, train designation, section and number of passengers and passenger seat grade of designated seat, non-smoking car / smokeable car, seat position, in-vehicle position classification, vehicle position classification from user terminal A reservation search request is received with the priority order between the specified items, the selection value of the specified item, and the priority within the item when multiple items are selected, and the selected value is specified as one. Items are absolute conditions, the other items are the desired conditions, the reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit is searched with the absolute conditions and the first desired conditions, and if there are no available seats, the priority order between items is determined. Reservation search processing procedure for searching by changing or removing desired conditions according to the priority order in the item, finding a vacant seat that satisfies the absolute condition and is closest to the first desired condition, and returning the charge amount to the requesting terminal. A payment processing procedure for receiving a reservation instruction from the user terminal, sending a payment screen, presenting the returned card information and fee amount, sending a transfer request to the card company terminal, and receiving the payment or permission; And a reservation confirmation processing procedure for updating the seat corresponding to the reservation status information to reservation confirmation in accordance with an instruction from the settlement processing means and transmitting a seat reservation ticket redemption code to the user terminal. Program to be executed by the data.

The train designation, boarding section and seat conditions are received from the terminal, and the reservation status information in the reservation database storage unit is searched using these. If there is no vacant seat, the free seat presence / absence information is read from the storage unit and specified. Check that the train has unreserved seats, remove part of the boarding section, search for vacant seats, and let the computer execute the reservation search processing procedure that returns the vacant seat information as a result to the requesting terminal via the network program.

The condition acquisition transmission procedure for acquiring the designation regarding the train and the conditions related to the designated seat including the position classification in the vehicle and the vehicle position classification and transmitting them to the seat reservation server, and the reservation database reservation using these received designations and conditions A train seat reservation method, comprising: a reservation search processing procedure for retrieving status information and returning suitable vacant seat information to a requesting terminal.

Specification for trains, passenger seat grades for designated seats, non-smoking cars / smokerable cars, seat positions, in-vehicle position classifications, and the presence / absence of designation for each item, priority order between designated items, and selection values for designated items And the priority order in the item when selecting a plurality of items, and the condition acquisition transmission procedure for transmitting these to the seat reservation server, and the items that are received and specified as one selection value are absolute conditions, The reservation status information in the reservation database is searched with the absolute condition and the first desired condition as the desired condition, and if there is no vacancy, the desired condition is changed according to the priority between items and the priority within the item until it is found. 23. A train seat process according to claim 22, further comprising: a reservation search processing procedure that finds a vacant seat that satisfies the absolute condition and is closest to the first desired condition and returns the vacant seat to the requesting terminal. About way.

Busy / quiet information indicating whether the train is in a busy season or busy time period is referred to before starting the reservation reception of each train, and if busy is specified, the seat assignment condition of the corresponding train in the reservation database A flag is set, and when reservation acceptance starts, the final seat reservation rate is predicted periodically, and if the predicted value exceeds a predetermined value, the allocation condition setting procedure for canceling the allocation condition and reservation from the terminal Receiving the search request, the specification about the train and the conditions about the designated seat, search the reservation status information in the reservation database using these designations and conditions and the allocation condition flag, and return the matching vacant seat information to the requesting terminal A reservation method for a train seat, comprising:

When access is received from the user terminal, if the transmitted user identification and password are registered in the user information, the train search screen information is transmitted, and the train search request, boarding date and boarding section are received from the user terminal. The train search processing procedure for performing train search and returning the corresponding train identification, the procedure for receiving the item input screen request from the user terminal, reading the default designation of the user information, and returning the item input screen information and the user, From the terminal, whether to specify the boarding date, train designation, section and number of passengers and passenger class of designated seats, non-smoking cars / smokerable cars, seat position, in-vehicle position classification, and vehicle position classification items and whether to specify priority A reservation search request is received with the priority, the selection value of the specified item, and the priority within the item when selecting multiple items, and the item specified with one selection value is regarded as an absolute condition. Search for reservation status information in the reservation database with the other conditions as the desired condition and the absolute condition and the first desired condition. If there is no vacant seat, change the desired condition according to the priority between items and the priority within the item until a vacant seat is found. Alternatively, search by removing, find the vacant seat that satisfies the absolute condition and is closest to the first desired condition, and receive the reservation search processing procedure to return this and its charge to the requesting terminal, and the reservation instruction from the user terminal Send the payment screen, present the returned card information and fee amount, send the transfer request to the card company terminal, receive the payment or permission, and make the reservation by the instruction of the payment processing means A reservation method for a train, which includes a reservation confirmation processing procedure for updating a seat corresponding to the status information to reservation confirmation and transmitting a seat reservation ticket redemption code to the user terminal. .

The train designation, boarding section and seat conditions are received from the terminal through the network, and the reservation status information in the reservation database is searched using these. If there is no vacant seat, the seat availability information is referred to and the seat is reserved for the designated train. A train seat reservation method comprising: a reservation search processing procedure for confirming that there is a seat, removing a part of the boarding section, searching for a vacant seat, and returning the vacant seat information as a result to the requesting terminal.